Energy and Power Engineering, 2013, 5, 283-286
doi:10.4236/epe.2013.54B055 Published Online July 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/epe)
Architectural Technology Strategies of Zero Energy Solar
House*
Ding Ding, Chongjie Wang
Shandong Jianzhu University; Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Utilization Technology in Building of National Education
Ministry; Key Laboratory of Building Energy Saving Technology of Shandong Province, Jinan, China
Received January, 2013
ABSTRACT
Taking I-Magic Cube - the entry of Shandong Jianzhu University for Solar Decathlon 2013 - for example, the paper
analyzes the conceptual, technological, functional and aesthetic solutions of zero energy solar house coping with eco-
logical, economic, social and cultural challenges. Passive strategies, the solar thermal and PV system, and the building
integrated solar system tactics are elabo rated. Finally, industrialization and marketing viability of th e solar house proto-
types are discussed.
Keywords: Zero Energy; Solar Decathlon; House; Architectural Technology; Industrialization
1. Introduction
I-Magic Cube, the entry of Shandong Jianzhu University
for Solar Decathlon 2013, is an exploring zero energy
solar house. Solar Decathlon or SD which is called the
Olympic competition of solar energy is the highest com-
petition of solar energy in the world. [1]Solar Decathlon
China 2013 which will be held in Datong, Shanxi Prov-
ince is one of the ECP projects signed when President Hu
Jintao visiting USA in 2011. The competition is hosted
by National Energy Administration & DOE and is un-
dertaken by Peking University. In the competition, uni-
versities from all over the world will design and build a
self-sufficient, grid-connected house, using solar energy
as the only energy source and equipped with high tech-
nologies that permit maximum energy efficiency.
2. Design Concept
Be named I-Magic Cube, the house has two main char-
acteristics that it is highly prefabricated and flexible.
It is prefabricated that the main building of the house
is preprocessed in factory and be easily put together after
transported to the lot. This strategy could improve the
construction speed and reduce building pollution. At the
same time, prefabrication is good for market promotion
thanks to its production rate.
Modularization enables the house possible to create
more reconfigurable modeling and space. PV panels
fixed above the roof can be adjusted automatically ac-
cording to the sun angle. In addition to meet the needs of
family or office life and consider the limited area of the
building, parts of the furniture used variable design me-
thods.
Modularization enables the house possible to create
more reconfigurable modeling and space. PV panels
fixed above the roof can be adjusted automatically ac-
cording to the sun angle. In addition to meet the needs of
family or office life and consider the limited area of the
building, parts of the furniture used variable design me-
thods.
3. Passive Solar Building Design Strategies
To build a high-efficient and economical solar building,
one needs to take full use of passive design methods at
first.
3.1. Plane Layout
Compact construction figure will reduce surface heat loss.
It is good for indu strialized production and transportation .
Therefore, the main building of I-Magic Cube is looked
like a rectangle. However, square body is a bit mechani-
cal and is not easy to address building features. Based on
the above considerations, a corridor is put to be perpen-
dicular to the main building, which makes the house an
L-type construction (Figure 1).
3.2. Spatial Organization
The increase of energy consumption for interior heating
*Analysis of I-Magic Cube

D. DING, C. J. WANG
284
and cooling caused by artificial illumination and me-
chanical ventilation is a significant factor of zero energy
house design.[2]Owning to I-Magic Cube’s regular block,
its natural ventilation and lighting situation is relatively
optimistic. Shandong Jianzhu University uses simulation
software like DEST, CFD, ECOTECT to further opti-
mize the design.
3.3. Envelop Enclosure
Energy conservation situation of one building is directly
determined by the performance of its envelop enclosure.
I-Magic Cube has six carefully designed external sur-
faces.
FrameCAD supporting system (Figure 2) is the major
structure of the house. 120 mm thick PU cold storage
panels (Figure 3) are fastened to the steel structure. Its
exterior steel thickness is 0.60 mm, while the interior is
0.50 mm. Thermal conductivity of the wall is 0.192
W/m2K and the noise reduction performance is 25 dB.
Mineral wool has been filled in the interspace of Fra-
meCAD to improve thermal insulation.
The competition rules that teams would not excavate
the building site. Therefore I-Magic Cube is supported by
steel braces. In order to guarantee energy saving property,
heat transfer performance of the floor has been taken into
special consideration. I-Magic Cube adopts 20 mm thick
fiber cement board covered by 120 mm thick PU cold
storage panel as its floor material. (Figure 4)
Figure 1. Floor plan.
The design takes Aluminum-clad solid wood windows,
using (4 mm + 0.2 V + 4 mm) + 12 A + 6 mm Low-E
vacuum glass and 5 mmG + 12 A + 5 mmG hollow
toughened glass. Some windows were equipped with
wind and rain sensors which could open and close the
windows automatically according to weather conditions,
as well as the outside roller blind system which co uld be
adjusted according to the situation of sunshine shade.
Vertical greening is added onto south wall, east wall
and the roof to improve heat-insulating property and to
beauty the environment (Figure 5). There are 15 cunei-
form green bags with series kinds of vegetation on the
Figure 2. FrameCAD supporting system.
Figure 3. PU cold storage panel.
Figure 4. Section of the main building.
Figure 5. Rendering of vertical greening.

D. DING, C. J. WANG 285
south wall (Figure 6). Planting system on the eastern
elevation include supporting bodies and implants. Im-
plant is isolated from supporting body, which makes it
possible to be taken and put flexibly according to need.
(Figure 7) Roof greening is made up of varies grass pal-
lets which could pave specified graphics on request. Each
device of the vertical greening has its own water and
fertilizer system. The plants are easily to survive.
4. Active Solar Building Design Strategies
The orientation of SD competition is to design and pro-
mote zero energy solar houses which are becoming the
development tendency of architecture. European Parlia-
ment raised a claim in 2009 that all new buildings must
be up to the standard of zero energy since 2019. [3] To
achieve this goal, except for passive design strategies,
designers have to use active strategies as well. In addi-
tion, adopting grid-connected technology and choosing
energy-efficient appliances is a significant way to opti-
mize the design.
4.1. Solar Thermal System
I-Magic Cube uses evacuated tube water heater and fresh
air ventilation system to recovery waste heat. The house
provides energy for air-conditioning system and cooling
Figure 6. Vertical greening on south wall.
Figure 7. Vertical greening on east wall.
PV system by collecting heat from the process of power
generation. It is heated by floor radiation and is cooled
by air source heat pump as well as capillary system
within roof and walls. The building also has solar fresh
air system, using solar energy to heat air and decrease
relative humidity directly. The system provides the room
dry heating installation and fresh air.
4.2. Solar PV System
The competition has make use of grid technology since
2009. Hard-wired battery and large plug-in uninterrup-
table power supplies are not permitted in SD 2013.
I-Magic Cube employs silicon PV panels. Located on the
room, the PV system is able to track sun to improve effi-
ciency of solar energy collection. (Figure 8)
4.3. Building Integrated with Solar Systems
I-Magic Cube regards PV panels, evacuated tubes and
other new materials as building elements deliberately.
Sun-tracking PV panels on the roof enrich architectural
appearance. Evacuated tubes on the corridor create
unique lighting effect. While solar fresh air thermal col-
lectors on south wall bring the building great skin texture.
(Figure 9)
Figure 8. Structure of fresh air system.
Figure 9. Solar energy technologies.

D. DING, C. J. WANG
286
5. Industrialization and Marketization
SD competition is a stage for solar energy technologies
utilized in residential buildings. [4] For this reason, in-
dustrialization and marketization are main contents of
examination. It is required to design the building with
modulus and construct it with industrialized methods.
These strategies will offer more attractive buildings to
clients.
5.1. Modularization
The main building of I-Magic Cube has two parts: ex-
change room and subsidiary rooms include kitchen,
bathroom etc. Shandong Jianzhu University worked
closely with construction industry, designing highly pre-
fabricated and modularized Frame CAD steel system in
order to product primary building space. Integrated
kitchen and bathroom are installed in the house to short-
en field construction time.
5.2. Informatization
To simulate whole process of building construction, Re-
vit was used to analysis the house. Utilization of Build-
ing Information Model facilitates coordinate o f all majors
and engineering management. It makes positive contri-
bution to reduce negative construction impact on envi-
ronment.
5.3. Variability
Building adopting FrameCAD system could be built up
to 3 stories at most. Therefore, the house can be ex-
pensed vertically according to actual demand. Moreover,
I-Magic Cube selects various reconfigurable furnitures
such as wall beds and lifted coffee tables.
5.4. Economic Feasibility
I-Magic Cube is designed for a single family while visit-
ing tourism resort districts, as well as for fieldworkers
while working in desert areas. Although high-tech pro-
ductions are more expensive, operation costs of the zero
energy house is not high. The house is economically fea-
sible. In addition, the building’s structural system is so
flexible that it is able to be made to order. According to
different customs’ personalized requirements, its wall
decoration panels, sun louvers and interior establish-
ments could be easily changed.
6. Conclusions
I-Magic Cube epitomizes social, economic and environ-
mental challenges zero energy solar house faces in the
future development and provides creative solutions. The
project plays a good role in the field of architecture to-
gether with solar energy technology and popularizes
achievements of solar house.
7. Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the Natural Sci-
ence Foundation of China (51078223).
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