The winner of this years Solar Decathlon was a German-designed solar house capable of producing twice the energy it requires to function.

According to Patrick Tauchert, one of the projects designers, the building succeeds in being highly sustainable by minimising its surface area to reduce heat loss.

The best way for sustainable design, in general, is the cube-ish form.

Essentially, it is one large box covered in highly efficient solar panels, providing further evidence for the benefits of box-like design.