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Archive for June, 2010

Congratulations to Virginia Tech and Solar Decathlon Europe

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Virginia Tech took top honors to a standing ovation at the Solar Decathlon Europe awards ceremony today in Madrid, Spain. The decathletes were ecstatic to finally win after participating in four Solar Decathlons. And this was the closest margin of victory in a Solar Decathlon. Virginia Tech won by less than a point! (more…)

Virginia Tech Wins Solar Decathlon Europe

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Congratulations to Virginia Tech, the winners of Solar Decathlon Europe 2010! Virginia Tech’s Lumenhaus was awarded first place overall in the Closing Ceremony of the competition Sunday evening in Madrid, Spain.

Second place in the international competition went to University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences placed third.

Also recognized Sunday was the University of Florida, which won the Internet-based public choice award. (more…)

Solar Decathlon Europe Decathletes Inspire

Saturday, June 26, 2010

When I first arrived many days ago, I was so excited, I ran down to the Villa Solar to see what the teams were building. What I found was inspiration. I was inspired by the designs and the hard work. (more…)

Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences Wins Innovation Contest at Solar Decathlon Europe

Friday, June 25, 2010

Congratulations to the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences team for filling its house full of innovative technology. Today, points were awarded by all the juries at Solar Decathlon Europe for innovation. These points were added up to determine the winners of the Innovation contest.

At this afternoon’s award ceremony, the first-, second-, and third-place teams were announced. However, the points are being kept secret until Sunday evening to add suspense. But with the overall standings so very close—the top three teams (Virginia Tech, École National Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble, and the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim) are within a few points of one another—who needs more suspense? (more…)

Arts et Métiers Paris Tech Wins Solar Decathlon Europe Sustainability Contest

Thursday, June 24, 2010

This afternoon at 5 p.m., the awards for the Sustainability contest were presented. Sustainability is one Solar Decathlon Europe contest that is not in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. It is worth 120 points, and it evaluates how green a house is. Equal to the Architecture contest in points, Sustainability is a contest many European teams designed their houses around in the hopes of acquiring an advantage. For Arts et Métiers Paris Tech, its green roof and recycled materials really paid off. The University of Nottingham, with its high-density urban solution, took second place.

(more…)

Competition Intensifies at Solar Decathlon Europe

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Too close to call! Virginia Tech had a commanding 35-point lead at Solar Decathlon Europe earlier this week, but the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim has cut that lead to only six points now. With only today and tomorrow left to score performance-based points, everything the teams do—from hot water draws to cooking to washing to cooling their houses—really makes a difference. Every point counts.

(more…)

Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences Wins Solar Decathlon Europe Engineering and Construction Contest

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The Germans and French ran away with the prestigious Engineering and Construction contest at Solar Decathlon Europe today. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences was awarded first place, and Arts et Métiers Paris Tech took second.  A two-way tie was announced for third between the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim and Ecole National Supérieure d’Architecture de Grenoble.

The jury members had high praise for the engineering excellence exhibited by all the teams and said even they learned a lot. They also said they were impressed by how many teams focused on the goal of “doing more with less.” That is the real challenge today for engineers, they said. (more…)

U.S. Ambassador Solomont Visits Solar Decathlon Europe

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Today at 11 a.m., U.S. Ambassador to Spain Alan Solomont visited Solar Decathlon Europe.

Much to the delight of the U.S. teams, Ambassador Solomont toured the University of Florida house and then the Virginia Tech house. The ambassador also visited two Spanish teams: the Universidad de Sevilla and the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera. Finally, he visited Tongji University’s Bamboo House. Ambassador Solomont praised the students and faculty and was very impressed by their work. He spent more than an hour and a half touring the houses. (more…)

University of Florida Wins Communications and Social Awareness Contest at Solar Decathlon Europe

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The award ceremonies continue in Solar Decathlon Europe’s Villa Solar. This afternoon, the Communications and Social Awareness award was presented to the University of Florida for its solar house, RE:FOCUS.

(more…)

Virginia Tech Retains Solar Decathlon Europe Lead

Monday, June 21, 2010

As of 7 p.m. Monday, Virginia Tech remains in first place overall at Solar Decathlon Europe because of its third-place finish in the Industrialization and Market Viability contest. The Industrialization and Market Viability announcement was made at 5 p.m. today. The Virginia Tech decathletes were extremely happy to again place in the top three in a major contest. (more…)

Virginia Tech Takes the Lead at Solar Decathlon Europe

Monday, June 21, 2010

Virginia Tech is in first place at Solar Decathlon Europe—and it was judged first in the Architecture contest! What a busy weekend for the Virginia decathletes. They worked their way up from third place on Saturday to take first place Sunday based on solid performance in the measured contests. Lumenhaus has performed almost perfectly so far. (more…)

European Union Ministers Visit Solar Decathlon Europe

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday evening around 8 p.m., we had a special treat: a visit by 27 European Union ministers of housing! The ministers are in Madrid for a meeting of the European Union, so they took some time to visit Solar Decathlon Europe.

The village again had to be cleared for a security sweep, but the teams were happy to have such special visitors—especially so many at one time!

Richard King is the director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Throughout the Solar Decathlon Europe competition, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon organizers are reporting from Madrid.

Future Decathlete Brings New Perspective to Solar Decathlon Europe

Friday, June 18, 2010

As the first day of competition week of Solar Decathlon Europe begins, there is a rush of decathletes and organizers on the already sunny grounds below the Royal Palace to get the houses ready to compete and to prepare for visitors. Busy city workers help lay out the last patches of mulch and gravel to shape the team lots. Students perform very Solar Decathon-typical chores as they mop off dust from PV panels and start positioning themselves to receive the crowds. (more…)

If You Build It, They Will Come

Friday, June 18, 2010

The real measure of success is: If you build it, will they come? This is the first time a Solar Decathlon is being held in Madrid, so one never really knows if the people will like it until the doors open to public visits on the first day. At 11 a.m., people were waiting to get into the village, and it wasn’t long before lines of people were waiting to get inside the houses. It is very gratifying to see the public interest. I assume, because today is Friday, we will see larger crowds this weekend. Congratulations to everyone involved. The hard work and dedication has produced a successful event!

(more…)

Prince Felipe Visits Solar Decathlon Europe

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Prince Felipe de Borbon, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain, visited the Solar Decathlon Europe village today at 6 p.m. He personally greeted each team and toured four houses.

Prince Felipe lifted the spirits of all the teams with his sincere interest and congratulatory well wishes and words of encouragement. During his visit, he shook the hand of every student and faculty member and wished them well. After a photo with many decathletes, he said goodbye about 7 p.m.

Richard King is the director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Throughout the Solar Decathlon Europe competition, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon organizers are reporting from Madrid.

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