Skip to main content
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter
  • Google+

Archive for September, 2013

Instrumentation for Dummies

Sunday, September 29, 2013

By Alexis Powers

If your head spins at the thought of 105 sensors collecting 12 data points every 15 minutes for all 19 houses competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013, you might want to pay a visit to Miss Barbara. This bodiless mannequin acts as the student liaison for the instrumentation team. Perhaps the steadiest head on the competition site, Miss Barbara helps student decathletes locate the instrumentation trailer when questions arise about measured contests.

(more…)

Assembly Day 6: Teams Don’t Stop for the Weekend

Saturday, September 28, 2013

By Richard King

On the sixth day of assembly, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 village continues to take shape. This morning, I had the opportunity to take a balloon ride 400 feet above the Orange County Great Park and see for myself the construction progress.

(more…)

Five Questions for a Solar Decathlon Organizer: Stephen Lappi, Health and Safety Officer

Saturday, September 28, 2013

By Alexis Powers

Steve Lappi is the health and safety officer of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. Before the competition, we asked him five questions to learn more about him and his role.

(more…)

Technology Spotlight: Solar Water Heating

Friday, September 27, 2013

By Solar Decathlon

Editor’s Note: This post is one of a series of technology spotlights that introduces common technologies used in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon team houses.

Solar water heating systems make hot water for residential uses such as bathing, laundering, and dish washing. Generally less expensive than photovoltaic panels, these systems provide homeowners with a cost-effective way to harness the sun’s energy.

(more…)

Five Questions for a Solar Decathlon Organizer: Chuck Kurnik, Site Operations Manager

Thursday, September 26, 2013

By Alexis Powers

Chuck Kurnik is the site operations manager of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. Before the competition, we asked him five questions to learn more about him and his role.

(more…)

The Houses Are All Here!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

By Richard King

Good news!  As of Wednesday morning, Sept. 25, all trucks with previously missing house sections and equipment were onsite at the Orange County Great Park.

(more…)

Five Questions for Richard King, Solar Decathlon Director

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

By Alexis Powers

Richard King is the founder and director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. We asked him five (okay, six) questions to learn more about him and his role.

(more…)

Transportation Issues Challenge Teams on the Second Day of Assembly

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

By Richard King

On the second day of assembly, everyone seems to be settling in for the long haul. Either they were exhausted from working 18 hours straight on Monday or the adrenalin of the first day excitement had worn off. Either way, there was a constant but steadier pace to the work today. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a marathon, not a sprint, and the teams understand that.

(more…)

A Race Against Time

Monday, September 23, 2013

By Richard King

It is hard enough to get selected as one of the 20 university teams to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, then to spend two years designing and building a competition house on campus, and finally to transport that house to the Solar Decathlon competition. But now it’s a race against time to reassemble the house at the competition site in California in just nine days.

(more…)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Building Skills for Future Careers

Monday, September 16, 2013

By Rebecca Matulka

Editor’s Note: This entry has been cross-posted from DOE’s Energy Blog.

After nearly 18 months of hard work perfecting their designs, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon teams stepped outside the classroom and began building their competition houses this spring. For many teams, the building process means more than just seeing their designs come to life. It is also a chance to gain hands-on experience that is beneficial to their future careers.

(more…)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Designing the Houses of Today

Thursday, September 12, 2013

By Rebecca Matulka

Editor’s Note: This entry has been cross-posted from DOE’s Energy Blog.

Designing an energy-efficient, solar-powered house for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is like solving a riddle that has more than one answer. Instead of just thinking about building materials and cost in the design process, teams have to consider a myriad of factors to create a winning house.

(more…)

Hangout With Solar Decathlon 2013 Teams on Sept. 18!

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

By Rebecca Matulka

Editor’s Note: This entry has been cross-posted from DOE’s Energy Blog.

Photo of a Solar Decathlon house at night. Superimposed is the following text: “Solar Decathlon 2013: The Path to a Brighter Future. Energy.gov/live. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at p.m. ET. #askSD.”

Mark your calendars for a Google+ Hangout on Solar Decathlon 2013: The Path to a Brighter Future on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m. ET.

For more than 10 years, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon has been preparing the next wave of energy leaders—providing hands-on experience in designing and building energy-efficient, solar-powered houses. As teams put the finishing touches on their entries for this year’s event—which is less than three weeks away—a few teams are taking time to answer your questions about what it takes to be a solar decathlete and how the competition will impact their careers.

(more…)

Volunteer for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 and XPO!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

By Amy Vaughn

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 and XPO would not be possible without the contributions of hundreds of volunteers. Their work supports and celebrates the remarkable collegiate teams who bring their energy-efficient, solar-powered houses and their passion to the Solar Decathlon.

(more…)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Raising More Than Just Walls

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

By Rebecca Matulka

Editor’s Note: This entry has been cross-posted from DOE’s Energy Blog.

For the teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, every cent counts. From researching design options and building supplies to transporting houses and communications materials, the costs of developing a competition house can add up. But before the teams even start on the building process, they must first master the art of fundraising.

(more…)

Solar Decathlon Houses on the Move

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

By Alexis Powers

One of the most challenging aspects of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is something very few people, including the team members, see. Each of the student-built, solar-powered houses must travel from collegiate campuses across the United States and around the world to the competition site in Irvine, California. As the decathletes watch two years of hard work being hauled away, they are left to hope that everything arrives safely at Orange County Great Park later this month.

(more…)

Archives

Categories

Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS)