SHADOWclad® was selected as the wall cladding of choice for the sustainable building project that's taken on the world at the Solar Decathlon China 2013. The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, comfortable and attractive.
Team UOW Australia comprises of members from The University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra and is the first team from Australia to gain entrance into the competition. It is also the first team in the history of the Solar Decathlon to demonstrate how to retrofit an existing home to improve its environmental performance.
The inspiration to retrofit came from the understanding that the current building stock in Australia - approximately eight million homes - equates to 13 per cent of the country's carbon dioxide emissions. An improvement of the energy efficiency of existing homes would have a significant impact and is essential for a sustainable future. The solution needed to be both practical and affordable.
Titled the Illawarra Flame House, after the transformational native Illawarra Flame Tree, it demonstrates how to modify and retrofit an energy-inefficient Aussie icon - the fibro home. Building materials have been selected for low embodied energy, high recycled content, minimal impact on air and water quality, non-hazardous formulation (avoiding constituents such as formaldehyde, PVC, lead and mercury), local production and third party accreditation, wherever possible - all while keeping the budget in mind.
It's easy to see why SHADOWclad made the list. SHADOWclad has low embodied energy, Super E0 Formaldehyde emissions and is manufactured from sustainably managed plantation timber by Carter Holt Harvey. It is also available with FSC Chain of Custody certification, and is favoured by architects and building designers for its appearance and affordability. In addition the product complies with the Building Code of Australia 2012 and is 'Product Certified' for peace of mind by the Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia.
SHADOWclad comes with a shiplap weather groove joint and a rough band sawn surface texture, with or without vertical grooves. It's also available in a pre-primed, powder coated finish for painting or in an un-primed natural surface for staining.
The announcement of Team UOW as the winner of the Solar Decathlon China 2013 is exceptional with their first entry. With all the feedback from the event, they are certainly onto a winning formula.
