The Aqua Green team complete 70% of their project in the International Solar Decathlon Competition

Ajman University Aqua Green team has completed 70% of their project in the 2018 Solar Decathlon Solar World Competition held at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, with the participation of 18 international educational institutions.

The team consists of architecture and interior design students from various different stages of study. The team designed and built a low environmental impact and low energy consumption solar home, which is environmentally suitable. The home is being built with the possibility of the house working fully on solar energy and the adaptation to suit the climatic conditions especially with high temperatures, humidity and dust. In addition to the use of recycling technology used in water and modern methods to reduce consumption with the provision of innovative engineering and contemporary solutions which suit the needs of individuals.

The students whom participated in the completion of the project stressed that they had to take into account, all aspects of comfort and modernity and modern lifestyle in addition to considering the architectural and cultural identity in the region. AU was one of the first local universities to be nominated for the competition. The project has been under process since October 2016. It is designed according to climatic factors, reduction of energy consumption and respecting cultural and social factors. The project has been implemented at the university site and will be transferred to Mohammed Bin Rashid Park to be evaluated according to ten criteria.

The university team created an air conditioning system, which they hope will save 50 to 60 percent of the energy used to cool the house. The team is also aware that the house is flexible enough to modernize its space to accommodate large families comfortably. It also has high expectations as it is suitable for low-income people and a model for the future of energy-saving homes. It depends mainly on solar energy and is in line with the UAE Government’s Strategic Plans to maintain a clean and sustainable environment.

Among the most prominent sponsors of the project are: Sheikh Zayed Housing Program, Ajman Municipality, Ajman Police Headquarters, Speed ​​House, Dubai Precast, Al Qarq Engineering & Consulting, Prestige Construction and Tech Group, as well as a number of companies including WSP Engineering, Caparol for dyes, and many others.

It is worth mentioning that this global competition in the field of sustainable urban environment began after the signing of an agreement between the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority “DEWA” and the US Department of Environment in 2015. The competition is held every two years, involving a large number of local and international universities, allowing students from different majors to identify Technical and socio-economic and sustainable lifestyles and to promote ideas, capabilities and techniques that can be implemented for the benefit of the people of the Middle East region.