what is it?
The Solar Decathlon is an international, interdisciplinary design-build competition hosted biennially by the U.S. Department of Energy for three weeks in October. Twenty college and university teams compete to design, build and operate the most attractive, effective and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The public is also invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design. The final judging competition will take place October 9-13 & 15-18, 2009, on the National Mall in Washington, DC .
The Solar Decathlon brings attention to one of the biggest challenges we face—an ever-increasing need for energy. As an internationally recognized event, it offers powerful solutions—using energy more efficiently and using energy from renewable sources.
how does it work?
Just like the well-known Olympic decathlon, the Solar Decathlon consists of 10 contests that center on all of the ways in which we use energy in our daily lives. The objective contests are scored by measuring performance, such as meeting certain temperature requirements. Other contests require the successful completion of tasks—which might simulate real-life activities such as cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
Subjective contests are scored by jurors who are experts in architecture, engineering, and other appropriate fields. The jurors evaluate features that measurements cannot, such as aesthetics and design inspiration.
The 10 Solar Decathlon Contests for 2009:
- Architecture — 100 points subjective
- Market Viability — 100 points subjective
- Engineering — 100 points subjective
- Lighting Design — 75 points subjective
- Communications — 75 points subjective
- Comfort Zone — 100 points objective
- Hot Water — 100 points objective
- Appliances — 100 points objective
- Home Entertainment — 100 points objective
- Net Metering — 150 points objective
For more information on the competition visit the competition's website.