I offer below a very brief summary of features and comments on each team that made it to the competition, based on written statements and their videos. The order is according to the current standings, which may change as the judging progresses.
* indicates in top half of judging for architecture or market appeal
*Missouri Science & Technology
Nest home
refurbished shipping containers, recycled materials
home automation, hydroponic garden
*Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ
SURE home
sealed for flood protection hurricane Sandy
PV can operate without grid power
*U of Buffalo, NY
GRoW home
Growlarium passive thermal barrier
canopy for plants
food production year round, geothermal
*Cal Poly, SLO, CA
INhouse
byfacial solar panels
bio-based phase-change material (palm oil?) in air ducts
wetlands recycles gray water
horizontal slats? redwood, bamboo
*Clemson SC
Indigo Pine home
SimPLY CNC plywood construction uses no nails, hand powered tools
*Sacramento State CA
Reflect home
stylish wood accents, vertical water feature
ductless mini-split A/C
transparent solar panels ??
no plants or food production evident in video
West Virginia/Rome
STILE home
recycled shipping containers + Italian arch
glass walled windows, solar chimney
*UC Davis, CA
Aggie Sol home
for farmworkers mudroom
double wide factory built
radiant cooling uses rainwater reservoir chilled by night air
heat exchanger grey water to potable water
reflective tubing illuminates with sunlight
straw bale wall insulation
Crowder/Drury MO
ShelterR3 home
tornado resistent
grid independent PV
Team NY Alfred
Alf house
Structural insulated panels
energy recovery ventilator
solar hot water, solar dryer
open duct work
*Team Orange County CA
Casa del Sol
rooftop solar thermal, gray water recycled
ceiling opens like California Poppy
direct solar to EV charging
walls adjust
3D printer
*Texas Austin/Germany
NexusHaus
BMW i3 charge
Integrated thermal and rainwater storage shifts A/C load off-peak
home hydroponics food production
Mass/Central America
Easi house
EV charging station
ductless heating/A/C
NY City Technology
DURA home
retractable walls
stilts for storm water to pass beneath
solar panel wall