Solar Decathlon

For three weeks in October 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy will host the Solar Decathlon—a competition in which 20 teams of college and university students 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.

Explore

The Team
The House
Curio Build Site
Tufts University Campus
62 Talbot Ave.
Medford, MA
*Behind Pearson Chemistryl Lab

Contests

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. Here you'll find information on the 10 contests and how they are scored. To compete, the teams must design and build energy-efficient homes that are powered exclusively by the sun.

The Ten Competitions

• 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)