Sunplanter, an innovative photovoltaic architecture and design firm, will be debuting its solar technology as part of the US Department of Energy's 2013 Solar Decathlon Competition.

Held this year in Irvine, CA on October 3-13, the highly acclaimed Solar Decathlon program challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are "cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive."

Sunplanter has partnered with Santa Clara University's Radiant House team for the competition, an accomplished Solar Decathlon competitor who placed third in the 2009 event.

Before Radiant House begins its journey to the Solar Decathlon competition site, Santa Clara University is hosting a sendoff ceremony to commemorate Radiant House's completion and invites the industry to take tours of Radiant House and view demonstrations of Sunplanter technology on Monday, August 19 from 11am - 1pm at 500 El Camino Real in Santa Clara.

"The students easily adopted this new type of solar technology and incorporated it seamlessly into their design for Radiant House, taking the project a big step closer to winning this year. It has been exciting to work with the skilled students and knowledgeable faculty at Santa Clara University to prepare Radiant House for the competition," said Alain Poivet, founder and CEO of Sunplanter.

Sunplanter completely re-engineers how solar panels interact with buildings by integrating solar PV into the roof and facade of the building by design.

Sunplanter's photovoltaic architecture means that solar is integral to the building, a method that reduces leakage, increases structural integrity, and results in higher efficiencies and enhanced aesthetics.

For example, a Sunplanter roof is fully structural, integrating the solar panels, racking and waterproofing system and replacing the carpentry of a typical roof.

Sunplanter roofs also feature an improved ventilation system that redirects warm air back into the building for other uses, cooling the panels and improving efficiency, while reducing the building's heating costs.