The project Phileas, designed and developed by the Atlantic Challenge team from École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Nantes, École Supérieure du Bois de Nantes, Institut Supérieur de Santé et des Bioproduits de l’Université d’Angers, and from École de Design de Nantes Atlantique and Sciences Com, with the support of Schneider Electric, has been awarded the Energy Efficiency prize at the Solar Decathlon Europe 2014. The competition currently takes place in Versailles (France) from June 28 to July 14, 2014. The prize was presented by Harrison Fraker, Chairman of the Energy efficiency judging panel at the Solar Decathlon Europe 2014 and Professor of architecture and urban design.

The Atlantic Challenge team achieved the best score in the energy efficiency test to assess the energy consumption reduction capacity of projects in the competition whilst also identifying excellence in the design and systems installed. The project would answer the new challenges of the “Fertile City” and is based on three axes: reinvesting the existing, reintroducing agriculture in the city and developing the local networks. The 150 square meters prototype presented in Versailles is built on the retrofitting of the Cap 44 building located in Nantes. For this project Schneider Electric provided an array of innovative solutions - some of which are still being developed - designed to optimize and manage energy consumption, improve comfort, generate power through solar photovoltaic, charge an electric vehicle, etc.

"We must congratulate the Atlantic Challenge team for their outstanding work to make their project energy efficient. The Schneider Electric employees who supported them over recent months in the creation of Phileas had the opportunity to appreciate their innovation capacity for a rational use of energy, says Michel Orlhac, Educational Programs Marketing Director at Schneider Electric. The promotion of energy efficiency is at the core of Schneider Electric's strategy. We are delighted to share our knowledge, resources and passion with a generation fully committed to today's energy challenge."

Launched in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Energy and supported by Schneider Electric since 2007, the Solar Decathlon is an international competition that aims to challenge students from universities across the globe as part of a 2-year project to design, build, and operate energy efficient solar-powered houses. The final takes place over a 10-day period in a solar village open to the public, during which the various competing projects will be assessed through 10 consecutive contests, as during in a decathlon. Schneider Electric is a “Diamond” partner of the 2014 European event currently taking place in Versailles (France). The Group is also supporting 13 of the 20 projects in the competition by sharing its expertise and most innovative technology. 

During the Energy Efficiency award ceremony, the panel of judges also recognized the achievements of the project Home with a Skin by the Netherland team Prêt-à-Loger and the ex-aequo projects Orchid House by the Taiwanese team Unicode and Simbcity project by the Spanish team Plateau (also sponsored by Schneider Electric). Schneider Electric congratulates them.