French Kings, Solar Power and Sustainability

The 2014 International Solar Decathlon at Versailles showcased sustainable housing designs from over 20 universities globally. The event emphasized the synergy between innovative products, such as polyisocyanurate insulation, and student ingenuity in addressing energy efficiency and urban retrofitting. Notable projects included Appalachian State University's modular town home, the Berlin Rooftop Project's use of abandoned roof space, and Delft University's 'second skin' for poorly insulated Dutch townhomes.

• The 2014 International Solar Decathlon featured over 20 universities globally, with competitors evaluated on architecture, communications, energy efficiency, engineering, construction, and sustainability.
• Competition rules limited electricity production to 5 Kwh, requiring homes to power appliances like refrigerators, air conditioning, washers, and dryers using solar PV systems.
• The event showcased diverse sustainable urban solutions, including Appalachian State University's modular town home, the Berlin Rooftop Project's focus on abandoned rooftop spaces for studios, and Delft University's 'second skin' designed for the poorly insulated townhomes that comprise over 60 percent of Dutch housing.
• The use of polyisocyanurate insulation provided by Atlas Roofing to Appalachian State University illustrated the importance of high-performance insulation in the future of the built environment.

APA

Blum, J. (2014). French Kings, Solar Power and Sustainability. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/french-kings-solar-power-and-sustainability

Chicago

Blum, Jared. French Kings, Solar Power and Sustainability. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2014. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/french-kings-solar-power-and-sustainability.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Blum |first1=Jared |title=French Kings, Solar Power and Sustainability |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=16 July 2014 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/french-kings-solar-power-and-sustainability |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{blum2014french, author = {Blum, Jared}, title = {{French Kings, Solar Power and Sustainability}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/french-kings-solar-power-and-sustainability}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }