The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002 and the competition has occurred biennially since then. This year’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon will take place October 8–18, 2015, at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.
2015 Solar Decathlon Teams
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- California State University, Sacramento; Clemson University
- Crowder College and Drury University
- Mass/Central America: Western New England University, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- New York City College of Technology
- Team NY Alfred: State University of New York at Alfred College of Technology and Alfred University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Texas/Germany: The University of Texas at Austin and Technische Universitaet Muenchen
- University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
- University of California, Davis
- Team Orange County: University of California, Irvine; Chapman University; Irvine Valley College; and Saddleback College
- West Virginia/Rome: West Virginia University and University of Roma Tor Vergata
The Solar Decathlon competition houses will be open to visitors from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily on eight days over two weekends: Thursday, October. 8–Sunday, October. 11 and Thursday, October 15–Sunday, October 18, 2015. The remaining dates, the Solar Decathlon village will be closed for competition activities.
Open to the public free of charge, the Solar Decathlon gives visitors the opportunity to tour solar-powered houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money.
For more information, visit the Solar Decathlon or download the 2015 Visitor’s Guide.
