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Deputy U.S. Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman presented the prizes at this year’s awards ceremony.

(© Germany.info)

The team of the Technical University of Darmstadt, led by Professor Manfred Hegger, has again taken first place in the 2009 Solar Decathlon, after having won in 2007.  The competition, which is highly regarded among energy experts, takes place every two years. Deputy U.S. Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman presented the prizes at this year’s awards ceremony.  Second and third place went to the teams of the universities of Illinois and California, respectively.

The jury stressed in particular the outstanding technical numbers of the German house in solar energy production and energy efficiency.  The TU Darmstadt students also scored high in the further categories.

Team Germany was first in the Net Metering and the Comfort Zone category. The team came second in Hot Water and third in Architecture and Lighting Design.

Congratulating the TU Darmstadt team, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth said:

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Everything in Team Germany's house is solar powered, even this toy fan.

(© Photo by Stefano Paltera/US Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon)

"TU Darmstadt’s second win in the Solar Decathlon is proof that Germany is  a global leader in building efficiency and renewable energies.  It’s fantastic that also the younger generation, the engineers and architects of tomorrow have taken this top position.  I am especially pleased that we are able to celebrate this victory here in Washington.  It is an important building block in the further expansion of the Transatlantic Climate Bridge, through which we are promoting cooperation among climate- and energy-policy players in Germany and the U.S. "

After visiting the Team Germany house, Ambassador Scharioth was convinced of the engineering and architectural skill and dedication of the TU Darmstadt students.  On Thursday, October 15, the Ambassador had opened a symposium at the Embassy on the topic "Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Building in Germany and the USA."

Solar Decathlon 2009

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The surPLUShome is based on a single-room concept with a central element containing the kitchen, stairs and bathroom. The surrounding space is primarily open and multi-functional.

(© Photo: Thomas Ott, www.o2t.de)

The Solar Decathlon is being be hosted for three weeks this October in Washington, DC, by the US Department of Energy, with an international selection of teams including defending champion Darmstadt University of Technology, Cornell University, the University of Arizona, the University of Calgary, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain, and the Universidad de Puerto Rico, among others.

The twenty ultra-modern, energy efficient eye-catching houses on the National Mall in Washington all differ in their look and design. Yet the young architects responsible for their creation all have a single goal: to create the most sustainable, comfortable and beautiful, exclusively solar-powered home.

The Winners, Team Germany from Darmstadt University of Technology, have been working for more than a year on their design, with the aim of creating a growing awareness of the issue of sustainability in building construction and to present renewable energies to the general public.

By implementing innovative building materials into their design this year, their aim is to create a building that pushes energy efficiency to its current limits. The hope is that it will allow the user to break with common lifestyle stereotypes and generate a new type of sustainable lifestyle.The Houses will be open to the public until Sunday October 18. The display on the National Mall in Washington, DC, has as of Thursday, drawn over 65,000 visitors.