University of Maryland, College Park
IN-2: Innovation 2

WaterShed, the University of Maryland’s entry into the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, placed first overall in the competition. WaterShed is a solar-powered home that comprises systems that interact with each other and the environment. Inspired by the rich, complex ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the home displays harmony between modernity, tradition, and simple building strategies, balancing time-trusted best practices and cutting-edge technological solutions to achieve high efficiency performance in an affordable manner. The home integrates a unique array of sustainable features, including a split-butterfly roof well-suited to capture and use both sunlight and rainwater; constructed wetlands that filter stormwater and greywater; a green roof to retain rainwater and promote efficient cooling; a photovoltaic array to harvest enough solar energy to power WaterShed year-round; a solar thermal array to fulfill all domestic hot water needs; “edible landscapes” that support community-based agriculture; a patent-pending indoor, liquid desiccant waterfall for high-efficiency humidity control; and an efficient, cost-effective, durable, and a time-tested structural system.