solar decathlon

For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon in Washington DC. 20  teams of college and university students will compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design.

The Solar Decathlon houses will be open for public tours 11 a.m.­–3 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that all homes will be closed Wed., Oct. 14.

Exact dates of the 2009 event are:

Oct. 1—Teams arrive at the National Mall and begin assembly of their houses
Oct. 8-16—Teams compete in 10 contests
Oct. 9-13—Houses are open to the public
Oct. 15-18—Houses are open to the public

The Solar Decathlon consists of three major phases:

Building: This is where most of the work—and the learning—happens. In addition to designing houses that use innovative, high-tech elements in ingenious ways, students have to raise funds, communicate team activities, collect supplies, and work with contractors. Although the Solar Decathlon competition receives the most attention, it’s the hard work that students put in during the building phase that makes or breaks a team.

    • Moving to the Solar Village: When it’s time for the Solar Decathlon, the teams transport their houses to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and rebuild them on site.
    • Competing: During the competition itself, the teams receive points for their performance in 10 contests and open their homes to the public.

    Purpose

    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.

    The Solar Decathlon has several goals:

  • To educate the student participants—the “Decathletes”—about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy and green building technologies. As the next generation of engineers, builders, and communicators, the Decathletes will be able to use this knowledge in their studies and their future careers.
  • To raise awareness among the general public about renewable energy and energy efficiency, and how solar energy technologies can reduce energy usage.
  • To help solar energy technologies enter the marketplace faster. This competition encourages the research and development of energy efficiency and energy production technologies.
  • To foster collaboration among students from different academic disciplines—including engineering and architecture students, who rarely work together until they enter the workplace.
  • To promote an integrated or “whole building design” approach to new construction. This approach differs from the traditional design/build process because the design team considers the interactions of all building components and systems to create a more comfortable building, save energy, and reduce environmental impact.
  • To demonstrate to the public the potential of Zero Energy Homes, which produce as much energy from renewable sources, such as the sun and wind, as they consume. Even though the home might be connected to a utility grid, it has net zero energy consumption from the utility provider.

    • Schedule of Events

    The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 is held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Oct. 9-13 and 15-18, 2009. Learn more about this year’s event highlights and daily schedule.

    Highlights

    Special features of Solar Decathlon 2009 include:

    • The Opening CeremonyThe Solar Decathlon 2009 Opening Ceremony is Thursday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.
    • The Awards CeremonyThe winner of Solar Decathlon 2009 is announced Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. (tentative).
    • Team HousesThe Solar Decathlon team houses are open for public visits Oct. 9–13 and 15–18. They are open 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that all houses are closed Wed., Oct. 14 and may be closed for 1-2 hours on other days for competition judging and measurement purposes.
    • Consumer WorkshopsThe U.S. Department of Energy and event sponsors offer solar energy and energy-efficiency workshops for consumers and industry professionals. Consumer workshops are not offered Oct. 13, 14, or 15 (Building Industry Day). See the schedule below for daily workshop offerings.
    • Educational ExhibitsTwo educational exhibits are open Oct. 9-18 during daylight hours:

      Anatomy of a House

      Located near the Metro Welcome Tent, this exhibit provides tips on saving energy for homeowners and includes fun, interactive features. The exhibit includes demonstrations of several building technologies used in the competition houses as well as a representation of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system that shows how a PV system is set up for a typical home. This is similar to how the Solar Decathlon 2009 competition houses are connected to the utility grid.

      Get Smart: Take Charge of Your Energy!

      Complementing Anatomy of a House, this exhibit demonstrates how smart choices can deliver us into a smart energy future.

    Daily Schedule

    The daily schedule of Solar Decathlon 2009 is listed below.

    Of course, Twilight Earth will be attending and will follow up with a full report.


    Related posts:

    1. The BeauSoleil Solar Home: Self Sufficient Solar Decathlon Entry
    2. Solar Power from Outer Space: Microwaves and Frickin’ Lasers
    3. New Jersey to Double its Solar Power Generation – Second Only to California