IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA secures second place in ‘Solar Decathlon’ Build Challenge in US

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A team of students from IIT Bombay secured second place in the prestigious Solar Decathlon contest in the US, for their innovative zero-energy house designed to address air quality challenges in Mumbai's hot and humid climate. 

An overview of the news

• The US Department of Energy's (DOE)Solar Decathlon competition is the longest running student competition in the US.

• In this, groups of students have to design and build highly efficient and innovative buildings powered by renewable energy.

• Ball State University took almost two years to design and build their zero-energy home and won the '2023 Build Challenge' competition.

• The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the University of British Columbia came second and third respectively in this year's 'Build Challenge'.

• A team from IIT Bombay built a house in Mumbai with advanced technology solutions to help improve air quality in hot and humid climates.

About innovative zero-energy house

• The house developed by the IIT Bombay team has a 14-kW solar PV Plant with an advanced in-house automation system.

• The Automation system controls the in-house developed dehumidifier system designed especially for the climatic conditions of coastal regions.  

• This house consumes nearly 80% less water than the regular house with its water efficiency fixtures, recycling system, and rainwater harvesting system.

• The team includes more than 50 students with engineering, architectural, and management backgrounds from more than 16 departments of IIT Bombay.