Education & Technology for a Sustainable Future. The case study of Solar Decathlon

Sapienza University of Rome participates in Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 International Competition, aiming to design and realize the best sustainable and energy-efficient housing prototype on a real scale. The purpose of the project is to create a Smart Solar House that can guarantee maximum efficiency and effectiveness in the use of natural resources and provide an attractive, accessible, comfortable and healthy environment. The aim of the paper is to analyze the contest from Educational standpoint, highlighting the aspects of Smart Systems and Smart People. Two phases methodologically joined between them are studied. In particular, 1) from a technology point of view the high-efficiency plant solutions, integrating renewable energy sources and advanced systems of building automation are deepened; And 2) from a socio-cultural standpoint the education and the direct involvement of users who will be able to consciously manage energy consumption and levels of comfort through the use of home automation systems are analyzed. The paper is divided into four sections. After the introduction, the second section offers a literature review of Smart House placed in a broader context on Education by users that concerns the use of enabling technologies, the third section explains the case study of Solar Decathlon Middle East, in the fourth section future remarks research directions are addressed.