By Carol Anna
One of the 10 contests in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, Energy Balance measures the net energy each house produces or consumes over the course of the competition.
By Alexis Powers
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon welcomed building industry professionals today with a series of workshops held in the Main Tent. Topics included “A Look at Industry Trends in Building Designs,” “Building the Solar Heating and Cooling Industry,” and “The Key to Sustaining Energy-Efficient Behaviors.” (more…)
Richard King features speakers from today’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Opening Ceremony. (more…)
By Alexis Powers
Today’s Opening Ceremony for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 brought the solar village to life. More than 600 students and invited guests attended the event, which featured dignitaries, sponsors, and Solar Decathlon Director Richard King.
Richard King addresses the audience at the Opening Ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 22. (Photo from Lachlan Fletcher, Studio 18a)
Arun Majumdar, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), gave a rousing speech to start the program.
“In the future, you leaders will be sitting across the table to figure out how to make this world a better place for your children and your grandchildren,” said Dr. Majumdar. “Let the Solar Decathlon be the start of that personal relationship.”
Senator Robert Menendez was another crowd favorite. After Solar Decathlon 2009, Sen. Menendez put out a challenge to all universities in his home state. Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology answered his call to action and formed Team New Jersey.
Distinguished speakers (from left: Richard King, Arun Majumdar, Beatriz Corredor, Liang Zhi-peng, and Elisabeth Neigert) listen as Sen. Menendez addresses the audience. (Photo from Lachlan Fletcher, Studio 18a)
Sen. Menendez recognized the many student experts—from architects and engineers to carpenters and pizza wranglers— that come together to create a Solar Decathlon house.
“You’re leading us to a brighter, cleaner, greener, smarter future,” he said.
Other speakers—including Beatriz Corredor from Solar Decathlon Europe, Liang Zhi-peng from Solar Decathlon China, and the generous sustaining sponsors—provided additional congratulations and inspiration to the decathletes. Elisabeth Neigert from the SCI-Arc/Caltech team represented the decathletes in the ceremony’s final speech.
The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting that officially opened the solar village to VIPs.
“We’re off and running,” said Richard King. As Elisabeth Neigert said, may the best team win!
Richard King cuts the ribbon at Solar Decathlon 2011. (Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)
Alexis Powers is a member of the Solar Decathlon communications team.
By Carol Anna
Media representatives enjoyed a sneak peek of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 solar village today, one day before the event’s official opening ceremony.
Solar Decathlon Director Richard King led more than 70 journalists from about 40 media outlets through the village, stopping in front of each house, where a student spokesperson gave a brief introduction to his or her team and house.
“The media really turned out to see the village today, which helps the students spread their stories,” Richard said. “We’ve never done a media preview quite like this before, and it was a huge success.”
Among the media present today were The Washington Post, Bloomberg, USA Today, The Huffington Post, Buildapedia, WJLA News Channel 8, WUSA Channel 9, and PBS’ “Nightly Business Report.”
Carol Anna is the communications manager of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Director Richard King talks to student team members about the end of assembly in the solar village.
Alexis Powers
Before teams are deemed eligible to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, they must pass a series of inspections to ensure their houses are code-compliant. This makes Tom Meyers a very popular guy during assembly.
By Carol Anna
At the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, safety is paramount.
Throughout the assembly, public exhibit, and disassembly phases of the event, Lead Safety Officer Lee Ann Underwood keeps a close watch on everyone’s well-being. Trained in environmental and occupational health, Lee Ann has worked as a safety officer for the Solar Decathlon since 2007. Lee Ann and her safety team, which includes safety officers Mary Ann Heaney and Steve Lappi, provide 24-hour coverage at the event with the mission of ensuring the safety of all participants. (more…)
By Richard King
Under mostly cloudy skies and occasional light rain, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon teams continue assembling their houses around the clock to finish the assembly phase of the competition, which for most (and hopefully all) teams will end Tuesday. (more…)
By Carol Anna
When it comes to building a solar village, Byron Stafford knows what it takes. Since the first U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in 2002, Byron has served as the competition’s site operations manager.
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Director Richard King talks to student team members about their assembly progress. (more…)
By Richard King
We have our time-lapse camera installed, so check out the views from about 40 feet above the solar village. The camera will be there throughout the entire event so everyone can keep an eye on all the happenings.
Carol Anna
Construction of the solar village on the National Mall’s West Potomac Park continued today, as student teams worked throughout the day and night to assemble their competition houses for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.
By Alexis Powers
Editor’s Note: This post is one of a series of technology spotlights that introduce common technologies used in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon team houses.
Homes generally rely on forced air systems, such as baseboard heat, for warmth in the winter. But for more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating, several houses built for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon use radiant floor heating instead.
Carol Anna
Since the first trucks rolled onto the National Mall’s West Potomac Park late last night, the site of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 has become alive with activity. Surrounded by trucks and cranes, decathletes in full construction safety gear have wasted no time beginning assembly of their houses.
