Appliances
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Appliances Contest is designed to mimic the appliance use of an average U.S. home. Teams earn points for refrigerating and freezing food, washing and drying laundry, and running the dishwasher. Points are awarded for:
- Maintaining the refrigerator temperature within 34°F (1.11°C) and 40°F (4.44°C)
- Keeping the freezer temperature within -20°F (-28.9°C) and 5°F (-1.5°C)
- Washing a load of laundry within a specified period of time (On several days during the contest week, two loads of laundry must be washed.)
- Returning a load of laundry to a total weight less than or equal to the load's total weight before washing using active or passive drying methods (On several days during the contest week, two loads of laundry must be dried.)
- Running the dishwasher through a complete, uninterrupted cycle, at some point during which a temperature sensor placed in the dishwasher must reach 120°F (48.9°C).
