Solar Decathlon 2009
For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon — 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 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:
1. 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.
2. To raise awareness among the general public about renewable energy and energy efficiency, and how solar energy technologies can reduce energy usage.
3. To help solar energy technologies enter the marketplace faster. This competition encourages the research and development of energy efficiency and energy production technologies.
4. To foster collaboration among students from different academic disciplines—including engineering and architecture students, who rarely work together until they enter the workplace.
5. 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.
In 2007, the lucky winners were a team from the Technical University in Darmstadt, Germany. The Architecture Jury said the house pushed the envelope on all levels and is the type of house they came to the Decathlon hoping to see.
This year, Darmstadt will be entering another team and are hoping to replicate their good luck despite stiff competition from 20 teams including universities fromMadrid,Puerto Ricoand theUS.During this year’s competition as in 2007, the German Embassy plans to bring together German and US policy experts and host a workshop focused on energy efficient building and green architecture.
