by Georgie Ampudia
teamMADE Monthly Newsletter – May 2023
The Orange County Sustainability Decathlon (OCSD23) is a competition that welcomes and challenges teams on a global scale to innovatively design, construct, and operate sustainable homes. This process and outcome for winners will result in the best blend of “affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and sustainability”.
Consisting of 10 contest categories, criteria includes sustainability, architecture, engineering, marketing, market potential, innovation, energy efficiency, water use and conservation, health and comfort, and lighting and appliances – all of which will be scored independently of each other. With 100 cumulative points obtainable, each of the 10 categories are worth 10 points each. The scoring methods are a fusion of performance-based ratings, verifications, and juried evaluations, with ultimate scores designated by subject-matter experts and the Competition Director, which are announced during award ceremonies during the week of the contest.
The following OCSD23 categories to evaluate competition homes include:
- Sustainability and Resilience
- Architecture and Interior Design
- Engineering and Construction
- Communications and Marketing
- Innovation
- Energy Effiency
- Water Use and Conservation
- Health and Comfort
- Lighting and Appliances
- Market Potential
Contest 1: Sustainability and Resilience
The Sustainability and Resilience category is centered around the evaluation of all components of the model homes – ranging from systems, design, technology, and more – incorporated to reduce harmful environmental impact through its build and usage.
The jury will evaluate…
- Team ability to address the issues regarding their target market that relate to sustainability and resilience, and through this target market influence consumer appeal through eco-efficient construction and project design.
- Incorporation of sustainable design and technology into the model home to address and prevent environmental harm.
- How teams are able to address how sustainability and resilience are amplified within the home to reduce impacts that may hinder the home’s lifecycle longevity.
- The home’s possible ability to function and withstand impacts – such as water shortages or long term power outages – through its ability to survive, adapt and recover from such events.
- Innovation to recognize the team’s ability to address these possible environmental issues within the home and innovative strategies that can decrease possible harm.
Contest 2: Architecture and Interior Design
The Architecture and Interior Design category concentrates on the evaluation of design and functionality of the presented home, through which a score will be assigned through on site inspection and also innovation.
The jury will evaluate…
- The ability to reach as well as address architecture and interior design requirements for the target market.
- The efficacy of comfort, aesthetic of design, and functionality of the model home’s interior design.
- How the blend between structure, architecture, mechanical, landscaping, engineering, plumbing, lighting, and more function together.
- The effectiveness of the home’s lighting – both natural and artificial within the lighting system.
- The coherence between elements like transitions throughout the home, connections between the interior and exterior of the home, composition, and layout.
Contest 3: Engineering and Construction
Within this competition category, workmanship and team collaboration will be tested, as efficiency, functionality, and reliability of the structure will be evaluated. This includes judging system elements ranging from electrical, plumbing, mechanical, controls and more to test their function and incorporation in the home.
The jury will evaluate…
- Team documentation, including construction documents, energy analysis documentation, system specifications, and more.
- Innovation through design, as new design solutions for the building will require different processes, technology, or engineering to refine the overall performance.
- Structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and control systems to ensure reliability, safety, and functionality of the structure.
Contest 4: Communications and Marketing
The category of Communications and Marketing involves effectively promoting the model homes to the public, emphasizing their sustainable designs and features to create a public understanding of the green components and their benefits.
The jury will evaluate…
- The Storytelling process, which centers on the team’s ability to create a background story to connect with the target audience. This story must be created with the intention of explaining why the home will suit the audience’s needs, has desirable traits and functions, and key features that make it appealing.
- The communication made to the audience about sustainability, and largely emphasizing this key trait of the home and its benefits.
- Marketing strategies, communication skills, educational techniques, to inform and persuade the target audience/ homebuyers to understand the home’s worth.
- Social media/ public profile content and how the home highlights features of green design, sustainability, functionality, livability, and adaptability of the home.
- Innovation through the team’s approaches in communication methods and marketing tactics.
Contest 5: Innovation
Innovation is encouraged and emphasized vastly within the competition to motivate teams to think, form, and act on unique ideas and strategies to address California’s housing crisis and global warming. New solutions are crucially needed in order to introduce new sustainable concepts, materials, designs, and ideas within the industry.
The jury will evaluate…
- Teams ability to push boundaries and test new limits through their unique visions and ideas.
- Navigate innovatively around challenges, whether it be through clientele, future placement of the home, geographical location, or their target market.
The Innovation category is also evaluated by a cumulative total of scores from the first five contests – Sustainability and Resilience, Architecture and Interior Design, Engineering and Construction, Communications and Marketing, and Market Potential.
Contest 6: Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is vital in creating a sustainable home. Jurors will evaluate based on measured energy and most energy saved.
The jury will evaluate…
- Through the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index, with a lower score signifying a more energy-efficient home. A HERS Index less than or equal to 40 will earn all available points.
- Building Energy Optimization Tool (BEopt) is promoted to be used by teammates to identify cost-effective combinations of renewable energy generation as well as efficiency measures.
- The team’s ability to provide required information (which is why Building Energy Optimization Tool is encouraged).
Contest 7: Water Use and Conservation
Water efficiency within each home is another vital element in a sustainable home.
The jury will evaluate…
- Water efficiency through the HERSH20 Water Efficiency Index, with a lower score signifying a more energy-efficient home. A HERS Index less than or equal to 40 will earn all available points. If above 40 but under 60, points will be reduced.
- The team’s ability to provide required information, lack of this ability will increase the HERSH2O Index.
Contest 8: Health and Comfort
Creating a welcoming and livable space to live is crucial in making a house a home. Within this category, there is a large emphasis on the ability to successfully create a comfortable living space that meets the needs of the model home’s occupants.
The jury will evaluate…
- Functionality of faucets through inspection and testing to verify they are correctly installed as shown within construction documents, alongside other elements within the home that may require testing.
Evaluation will be ensured alongside this category’s two sub-contests: Whole House Systems and Bathroom Facilities and Plumbing. The jury will evaluate…
- Utilities (HVAC, power generation and storage, hot water) throughout the entire house as according to construction documents to confirm they function accordingly.
- That all bathroom and plumbing fixtures (shower, water closet, lavatory, etc.) function properly according to construction documents.
Contest 9: Lighting and Appliances
As per other competition categories, emphasis is placed on ensuring construction documents are followed exactly as approved. From utilities, to water, to energy, lighting and appliances are also an important factor of this rule.
The jury will evaluate…
- Home office, entertainment, kitchen, lighting, laundry, and security security appliances (and more) will all be evaluated through further inspection.
- Inspection through teams testing proper installation as shown in construction documents.
Contest 10: Market Potential
This category focuses on the marketability of the product, especially its relevance in the 5-10 years following the competition regarding its place in California’s housing market. In preparation for post-competition placement and development of future similar structures, sustainable housing options in California are crucial.
The jury will evaluate…
- Affordable, sustainable, and efficient solutions through the home’s design, construction, technologies, installation, systems, manufacturing and more that will help fix California’s housing crisis.
- The outcomes provided through community service, activism, code development, public awareness, and public outreach through local activity.
- The team’s ability to recognize market needs in California that are unmet and develop solutions aimed to fix them.
- The outcome of resources, money, energy, water, and more saved.
- Innovation through the ability to innovatively identify and work towards fixing market needs and impact within the market.
Learn more about OCSD23 criteria here, and learn more about the general competition here!