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

Solar Decathlon Blog - Events

Below you will find Solar Decathlon news from the Events archive, sorted by date.

40 Collegiate Teams Advance to Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Forty teams from 37 collegiate institutions are advancing to the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon® 2024 Design Challenge based on their cutting-edge, zero energy building designs.

(more…)

Solar Decathlon Awards Nominations Open, SD Pro January Cohort, and More!

Friday, December 15, 2023

Three women smiling and looking at the camera, holding awards, against a backdrop with the Solar Decathlon logo.

SOLAR DECATHLON AWARDS

Nominate an Outstanding Solar Decathlon Alum or Faculty Member by Feb. 1!

Know a Solar Decathlon alum or faculty lead who should be celebrated for accomplishments in the buildings industry? Nominate them for the Solar Decathlon Alumni/Faculty Awards!

These annual awards are given to past U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon® participants at the student or faculty level who have made outstanding contributions to the transition to a clean energy economy.

Nominate by Feb. 1 to be considered. Winners will be announced in April 2024 at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.

Nominate today!

(more…)

Join the Design Challenge Kickoff Webinar—9/5/23, 1 p.m. EDT

Thursday, August 31, 2023

a group of students jumping for a team photo

Kick Off Your 2024 Design Challenge with the Competition Organizers!

Thinking about joining the 2024 Design Challenge?

Jump into your U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® competition experience at the Kickoff Webinar!

Join us on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 1 p.m. EDT to hear about:

  • Design Challenge changes for 2024, including new division breakdowns and the 10 updated contests.
  • Mentor program opportunities for alumni and current teams.
  • Competition timelines, including the semifinal and final events.
  • And more…

Add the Sept. 5 Kickoff Webinar to your calendar today!

(more…)

Calling the Next Sustainable Building Professionals—Register for the Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Are you a student or professor interested in transforming buildings to tackle the climate crisis?

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is seeking collegiate student participants from diverse majors to join the next round of the zero energy building design competition. Students from collegiate institutions in the United States and around the world are encouraged to form interdisciplinary teams and register!

(more…)

Fifty-Seven Teams Advance to Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge Final

Monday, February 27, 2023

Renderings from a selection of Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge finalist teams.

Renderings from a selection of Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge finalist teams.
Graphic by NREL

Fifty-seven teams from 63 collegiate institutions have earned a spot in the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2023 Design Challenge.

“Solar Decathlon has pioneered energy efficient building designs for more than two decades; this year’s finalist teams showed there is always room to push the envelope on zero energy buildings,” said Rachel Romero, Design Challenge competition manager.

Finalist teams were selected at the Semifinal Competition Event, held virtually February 24–25, 2023.  Teams presented their zero energy building designs to a panel of industry experts and finalists were selected based on their innovations, technical plans, and the quality of their presentations.

The competition includes residential and commercial designs in six different divisions: New Housing, Retrofit Housing, Attached Housing, Multifamily Building, Office Building, and Education Building. Up to 10 teams were selected in each of the contest divisions.

Finalist teams will compete to win their division, and possibly become one of two overall grand winners, at the hybrid Solar Decathlon Competition Event, April 20–23, 2023, in Golden, Colorado, at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The event will also include virtual participation options, networking sessions, and the announcement of the 2023 Build Challenge winners.

“As the premier sponsor for Solar Decathlon this year, we are thrilled to honor the finalist teams in the Design Challenge,” said Deb Cloutier, chief sustainability officer at Legence. “The experience students gain during this program is foundational to the design of energy-efficient and sustainable buildings in real life—some of our best engineers today are Solar Decathlon graduates.”

Join the awards ceremony livestream on April 23, 2023, 10 a.m. EDT, to see which finalist teams earn the grand prizes this year!

2023 Design Challenge finalist teams by division:

New Housing Division

  • Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
  • Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
  • Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
  • Monash University, Clayton, Australia
  • The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
  • The University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
  • University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
  • University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts

Retrofit Housing Division

  • Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
  • Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan
  • Howard University, Washington, D.C.
  • Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
  • Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania; Johnson College, Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
  • Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario

Attached Housing Division

  • Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
  • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, Hanoi, Vietnam
  • The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
  • The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia; Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia
  • Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario
  • University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts

Multifamily Building Division

  • Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
  • Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
  • Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York; Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
  • Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario
  • University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Alexandria, Virginia

Office Building Division

  • Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
  • Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
  • Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
  • Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
  • Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, India
  • Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
  • Monash University, Clayton, Australia
  • University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts

Education Building Division

  • Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
  • Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
  • Howard University, Washington, D.C.
  • Myongji University, Seoul, South Korea
  • Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
  • Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
  • The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York City, New York
  • The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia; British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia
  • University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • University of North Texas, Denton, Texas; Al Hussein Technical University, Amman, Jordan

Zero Energy Design Designation – Join March 7 Informational Webinar!

Friday, February 24, 2023

An aerial view of a home, with the text "Zero Energy Design Designation"

Learn about the Zero Energy Design Designation—March 7 Informational Webinar

Want to earn a designation from the U.S. Department of Energy for your collegiate institution’s zero energy program of study?

Join representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Zero Energy Design Designation virtually on March 7 to learn how participation in the Solar Decathlon can help you earn this prestigious designation!

  • Learn more about the 2023 Zero Energy Design Designation during an informational webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
  • Launched in 2022, DOE has awarded 17 programs of study from 12 post-secondary institutions for their outstanding three-year commitment to provide students with building science education and opportunities to deploy zero energy design skills through hands-on design or build projects.
  • The Zero Energy Design Designation is an opportunity for post-secondary institutions to highlight their leadership in zero energy design education, and the Zero Energy Design Designation application will open for 2023 applicants no later than early May.
  • Collegiate programs that participate in the Solar Decathlon Design and/or Build Challenges through the final submission meet the criteria to apply for the designation!

Webinar details:

  • The webinar is an opportunity to hear from participating faculty about the designation.
  • The session will also help you learn how your college or university program could earn the designation, the application timeline, information about how to apply, and a question/answer period.

The Zero Energy Design Designation organizers hope to see you on March 7! Please reach out with any questions to ZEDD@nrel.gov.

Jeremy Blum is #SDLivingTheDream: Igniting an Interest in Carpentry and More

Monday, June 13, 2022

Name: Jeremy Blum

Year participated in Solar Decathlon: 2009 Solar Decathlon

University Team: Cornell University Silo House Team

Current Employer: Shaper – https://shapertools.com

Current Role: Senior Vice-President of Engineering and Principal Electrical Engineer

(more…)

Off to the Races—Announcing the Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge and 2023 Build Challenge Teams!

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Solar Decathlon, and 133 teams from 107 collegiate institutions are off to the races as competition begins for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2022 Design Challenge and 2023 Build Challenge teams in 20 countries and 29 U.S. states.

Over its lifetime, the Solar Decathlon has challenged more than 25,000 students to create high-performance, efficient, and affordable buildings powered by renewables while promoting student innovation, STEM education, and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry. The Design and Build Challenges are composed of 10 contests. The Design Challenge is a one- to two-semester, design-only competition, while the Build Challenge is a multiyear design-build competition.

“Now in its 20th year, the Solar Decathlon continues to be at the forefront of building the next generation of student leaders who can address climate change through the built environment,” said Holly Jamesen Carr, Director of Solar Decathlon in the Building Technologies Office. “As these students take on the toughest challenges in the built environment, their bright ideas and creativity will be crucial in the transition to a clean energy economy.”

A map of the world, showing all of the teams competing in the 2022 Design Challenge, and the 2023 Build Challenge

2023 Build Challenge

The number of teams competing in the 2023 Build Challenge has nearly tripled from the 2020 Build Challenge to 32 teams, and 16 of the 37 participating collegiate institutions will send teams to the Solar Decathlon Build Challenge for the first time. Over the next two years, these teams will design and build energy-efficient, fully functional homes in their communities to demonstrate creative solutions for real-world issues in the building industry.

The 37 collegiate institutions participating in the 2023 Build Challenge are:

  • Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (جامعة عبدالمالك السعدي), Tétouan, Morocco
  • Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, Colorado
  • Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
  • Bangkok University (มหาวิทยาลัยกรุงเทพ), Bangkok, Thailand
  • Barber-Scotia College, Concord, North Carolina
  • Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
  • Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington
  • Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
  • École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, Saint-Étienne, France
  • Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi, Kocaeli, Turkey
  • Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Turkey
  • Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi
  • Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, New Mexico
  • NewSchool of Architecture & Design, San Diego, California
  • Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
  • San José State University, San José, California
  • Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
  • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
  • The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, Middletown, Pennsylvania
  • The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
  • The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
  • Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Université Moulay Ismaïl (جامعة مولاي إسماعيل‎), Meknès, Morocco
  • University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
  • University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
  • University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California
  • University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
  • University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
  • Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Woodbury University, Burbank, California

Build Challenge teams will present their designs at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event, April 24–26, 2022, for approval to move forward to the construction phase. Teams will complete construction by early 2023, exhibiting homes locally in their communities, and winning teams will be chosen in April 2023.

A rendering of a home in the desert.

The 2021 Build Challenge team from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas earned third place for their entry “Mojave Bloom,” a design that created a healing space for military veterans. Photo by NREL

2022 Design Challenge

101 teams from 80 collegiate institutions have joined the 2022 Design Challenge. Cross-disciplinary teams will bring their residential or commercial building designs to the Semifinal Competition next February, followed by finalist project presentations at an expert-juried event held April 24–26, 2022.

The 80 collegiate institutions competing in the 2022 Design Challenge are:

  • Alexandria University (جامعة الإسكندرية), Alexandria, Egypt
  • Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
  • Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois
  • Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
  • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California
  • Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia
  • College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, California
  • College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri
  • Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
  • Escuela Especializada en Ingeniería ITCA-FEPADE, Santa Tecla, El Salvador
  • Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Howard University, Washington, D.C.
  • Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
  • Jackson State University , Jackson, Mississippi
  • Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
  • Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
  • Kern Community College District, Bakersfield, California
  • Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
  • Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri
  • Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • Myongji University (명지대학교), Seoul, South Korea
  • Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, New Mexico
  • New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico
  • New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, New York
  • Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
  • Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont
  • Ohio University, Athens, Ohio
  • Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
  • Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
  • Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas
  • Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
  • Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
  • Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario
  • Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California
  • School of Planning and Architecture Delhi, New Delhi, India
  • Shiraz University (انشگاه شیراز), Shiraz, Iran
  • Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
  • Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Tehran University of Art (دانشگاه هنر تهران‎) , Tehran, Iran
  • Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
  • The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York City, New York
  • The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
  • The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York
  • The University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
  • The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
  • The University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
  • Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Université de Carthage (جامعة قرطاج), Tunis, Tunisia
  • Université de Monastir (جامعة المنستير), Monastir, Tunisia
  • Université Mohammed V de Rabat (جامعة محمد الخامس), Rabat, Morocco
  • University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska
  • University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
  • University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
  • University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
  • University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
  • University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
  • University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
  • University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
  • University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
  • University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
  • University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, Vermont
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Alexandria, Virginia
  • Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts

Team enginuity group photo

Grand Winners of the 2021 Design Challenge in the Residential Division from Northwestern University. Photo by NREL

About EERE

The mission of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to equitably transition America to net zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050, and ensure the clean energy economy benefits all Americans, creating good paying jobs for the American people—especially workers and communities impacted by the energy transition and those historically underserved by the energy system and overburdened by pollution.

 

 

Andrea Lin is #SDLivingTheDream: Learning the Collaborative Nature of Sustainable Design

Monday, October 25, 2021

Name: Andrea Lin

Year participated in Solar Decathlon: 2021

University team: Northwestern University

Current organization / employer: Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Current role: Architectural Intern

How did participation in the Solar Decathlon affect the trajectory of your career?

My experience in Solar Decathlon brought me the confidence in changing my career path towards one that interests me. In my third year of university, I was exploring architecture classes and began learning about the design process and high-performance buildings. However, most of the work for these classes was done as individuals so the scope of work was focused mostly on the architectural function and aesthetic. Solar Decathlon exposed me to the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of sustainable design, which has helped me adapt my experiences to my interests.

(more…)

3 Weeks to Apply to Participate in Solar Decathlon by October 26

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

SD logo

Compete in the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® and join more than 25,000 students from 35 countries who have experienced the impact of this unique, life-changing competition!

New and returning collegiate institutions are encouraged to register and participate in this competition that prepares the next generation of building professionals to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables.

(more…)

Join Ready, Set, Solar Decathlon Event on September 16; Apply to Participate in Solar Decathlon by October 26

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Solar Decathlon logo

Compete in the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® and join more than 25,000 students from 35 countries who have experienced the impact of this unique, life-changing competition!

New and returning collegiate institutions are encouraged to register and participate in this competition that prepares the next generation of building professionals to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables.

(more…)

Rally Your Classmates and Apply to Compete in Solar Decathlon; October Deadline for Design and Build Challenges

Friday, July 16, 2021

Passionate about sustainable buildings? Ready to test the skills you’ve learned in the classroom on a real-life project? The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is ready for your innovative ideas and creativity! Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition that prepares the next generation of building professionals to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables.

The Solar Decathlon Competition Guide, 2022 Design Challenge Rules, and 2023 Build Challenge Rules are now available to the public. All collegiate institutions are encouraged to apply to participate in the next edition of Solar Decathlon by October 26, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Team Applications can be submitted for both the Design Challenge and the Build Challenge.

Read more

Department of Energy Kicks Off Solar Decathlon Competition Event and Announces Richard King Award Winners

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Today, Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman officially kicked off the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® Competition Event during the Solar Decathlon Opening Celebration.

Students from 72 teams, representing 66 collegiate institutions and 12 countries, are competing for top prizes in the 2020 Build Challenge and 2021 Design Challenge during the Competition Event.

“I was deeply inspired by the ingenuity and perseverance of our Solar Decathlon teams, who have designed and constructed buildings that embody the spirit of innovation we need for a clean energy future,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Speakes-Backman. “These homes are a testament to the incredible skill and resolve of the next generation of building professionals, who share a sense of urgency in tackling the climate crisis and building more sustainable communities.” (more…)

Department of Energy Announces Postponement of Solar Decathlon 2020 Summer Events and Webinar on May 27

Friday, May 22, 2020

The grand winner trophies

Gain a once-in-a-lifetime experience by applying for the next Solar Decathlon Design Challenge and Build Challenge. Photo by Vern Slocum/NREL.

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® postponed its 2020 Solar Decathlon Build Challenge from June 2020 to April 16-18, 2021. The event, originally scheduled to be part of the 2020 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, will move from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, where it will coincide with the Solar Decathlon 2021 Design Challenge competition. The 2022 Build Challenge will take place in 2023. (more…)

Design Challenge Weekend Will Be a Completely Virtual Event

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Due to the recent health concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Design Challenge Weekend (April 17–19) will be transitioned to a completely virtual event with a similar schedule. There will be no in-person activities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory or the adjacent Denver West Marriott hotel.

The revised agenda for the virtual Design Challenge Weekend and an addendum to the Competition Rules outlining changes due to the virtual nature of the event have been posted.

(more…)

Archives

Categories

Entries (RSS) | Comments (RSS)