Winners of the Solar Decathlon China 2013, Team UOW (of University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra Institute) was the first Australian team to have ever won a place in a Solar Decathlon final and was the largest student-run competition that the UoW has ever entered.

Hosted by the United States Department of Energy, the Chinese National Energy Administration, and Peking University, Solar Decathlon China 2013 challenged 24 teams from 14 countries to design, build, and operate a solar-powered home that is energy efficient, cost effective to build, and appealing. Categories in which entries are judged include architecture, engineering, solar application, energy balance, market appeal, home entertainment, and appliances.

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When it came time to make a home together, Jason and Stephanie Specht wanted to build a sustainable house in Thaxton, VA which is classified as a Climate Zone 4A. Upon consultation with the representatives of Structures Design/Build company they opted for a Passivhaus design. The custom optimized Passivhaus design created by Structures Design/Build allowed the Spechts to achieve cost parity with traditional construction.

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On a hot summer day in Lodi, California, a community of vintage mid-century trailer restoration enthusiasts held an Open House during their TrailerFest 2013 Rally. Gathering at the Stockton Delta KOA campground, members of VintageCamperTrailers.com invited the general public to tour their tiny homes that have been kept in mint condition, restored, or renovated to be road-worthy dwellings.

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