TAMPA, Fla. (May 10, 2011) –An informal groundbreaking marked the start of construction on FLeX House, Team Florida’s entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. On Wednesday, May 11, team members from the University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design, College of Business and School of Mass Communications joined [...]

Two years after the FLeX House concept was first developed, Team Florida prepares to break ground, transforming paper sketches and wooden prototypes into a tangible, energy efficient home. The concept, to build an attractive and flexible net-zero energy home, specifically designed for a hot, humid climate, was developed by University of South Florida School of [...]

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 official blog announced today that the competition is officially back on the Mall: The Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 will be held at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park, on the banks [...]

TAMPA, Fla. (February 22, 2011) — Team Florida students from the USF College of Architecture and Community Design, College of Engineering and the School of Mass Communications spent the past weekend talking about FLeX House and all things solar at the USF College of Engineering’s annual expo. Team Florida’s Expo booth featured FLeX House, a [...]

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2011) – The fundraising effort for Florida’s entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 competition – FLeX House – is being spearheaded by the state’s energy and building industries with more companies interested in Florida’s solar future coming on board as the deadlines for completion quickly approach.  Donors [...]

On Tuesday February 15, The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a story entitled Architecture Professors and Students Protest Moving Solar Decathlon Off the National Mall. Written by Scott Carlson, a senior reporter at The Chronicle,covering architecture, sustainability, and energy, includes a quote from Rebecca Hagen, Communications Faculty Advisor for Team Florida. To read the full story, click [...]

The University of Florida team members walked away winners in Madrid this summer at the Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 after winning 1st place in the Solar Decathlon Europe Communication and Social Awareness contest. The Gators, who will compete as part of Team Florida in the upcoming U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, also placed [...]

After months of preparation and 10 days of fierce competition, Virginia Tech was named the winner of the first ever Solar Decathlon Europe 2010. The Hokies beat out 16 other competing teams for the title, including schools from South America, China and Europe. The 10-day competition, which was held in Madrid this past June, challenged [...]

UF members from Team Florida are in Madrid, Spain this summer competing in Solar Decathlon Europe 2010.  University of Florida’s team of students and faculty is one of only two teams from the United States participating in the competition.  With the final phase of the competition being held June 21-28, the team has been preparing [...]

A scale model of Team Florida’s Flex House is part of an exhibit at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Team Florida’s entry in the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition joins 19 other models in a three-month exhibit that kicks off the 2011 Decathlon. Schematics accompany the scale model. The exhibit will be on display [...]

USF joins FSU, UCF and UF for international competition TAMPA, Fla. (Apr. 30, 2010) – The University of South Florida is part of a team selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon which will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2011.  Teammates include Florida [...]