The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is a collegiate competition, comprising 10 contests, that challenges student teams to design and build highly efficient, innovative, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy. The combined competition features two tracks, the Design Challenge and the Build Challenge. Solar Decathlon focuses on two critical goals: to integrate high-performance building design and construction education into degree programs, and to inspire the public and industry through zero energy or energy-positive innovations implemented by student teams.
Design Challenge: Student teams create new or retrofit residential and commercial building designs. Designs are evaluated on how well they meet the nation’s rapidly evolving demand for zero energy buildings.
Build Challenge: Student teams design, build or renovate, showcase, and operate fully functional houses in their local communities.
For more information about the challenges, including a full list of competing teams and current challenge timelines, please visit www.solardecathlon.gov. If you are interested in connecting with one of the student teams, being a judge/juror, or would like to learn how to get involved locally, please contact solardecathlon@nrel.gov.
ASHRAE is an affiliate partner of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.