Solar Decathlon Blog

Eleven collegiate teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon^® 2023 Build Challenge are hosting community open houses for their zero energy homes through April 18.

The teams, located across the globe, have spent nearly two years designing and building full-size, high-performance, low-carbon, zero energy houses for the competition. These dwellings demonstrate creative solutions to real-world climate issues, as well as long-term durability for local environmental conditions.

Additionally, these homes are built in communities across the country and around the world so more people can see them.

Learn when, where you can visit

Photo by Adobe Stock

By Deborah Cloutier, Chief Sustainability Officer, Legence

The Solar Decathlon empowers thousands of talented students to take up careers in the clean economy, producing tangible benefits for numerous companies, including Legence.

In 2009, the Solar Decathlon is where three soon-to-be Legence employees—Ben Hobbs, Drew Roberts, and Johnathan Stewart—got their impressive start in net-zero energy design, setting the foundation for their lifelong work at CMTA, a Legence company. Throughout the competition, they designed and built the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems of a net-zero energy-efficient house.

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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.

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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.

The New Solar Decathlon LinkedIn Page Just Launched!

You asked, we built it! The new Solar Decathlon LinkedIn page just launched, allowing you to list the program in your experience section, search and connect with other alumni, and showcase your experience to a wider audience. You deserve it: https://bit.ly/SolarD_LinkedIn

Not a Solar Decathlon alum? No problem! Follow the new page to stay up to date on the latest Solar Decathlon happenings, including the announcement of the 2023 Design Challenge Finalists on February 27! The Semifinal Competition Event is this weekend, so stay tuned on LinkedIn for updates.

Last Chance to Nominate a Faculty Advisor or Alum for the Solar Decathlon Richard King Award!

Has an influential U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon^® Alum or Faculty Advisor made a positive impact on you, the program, or building a clean energy economy? Nominate them for the Richard King Award by February 1, 2023!

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Nominate a Faculty Advisor or Alum for the Solar Decathlon Richard King Award by February 1!

Has an influential U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon^® Alum or Faculty Advisor made a positive impact on you, the program, or building a clean energy economy? Nominate them for the Richard King Award by February 1, 2023!

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97 collegiate institutions with 124 total teams are participating in the Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge.

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A Blok modular apartment unit is installed at the NREL Research Block. (Photo courtesy of NREL)

Solar Decathlon has long been synonymous with digestible building science education. Now, the competition is launching a new initiative—SD Studio—to feature one cutting-edge building topic in depth each academic year. This year’s topic is industrialized construction!

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2022 Design Challenge Residential Grand Winners from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Register for the 2023 Design Challenge by the October 26 deadline!

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Industry professionals connect with Solar Decathlon students during Career Connections at the 2022 Competition Event.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon^® is looking for program alumni to serve as mentors for current 2023 Design Challenge teams!

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The first Solar Decathlon collegiate competition was held 20 years ago in the fall of 2002. Back then, teams had to convince the public that solar panels could even power a home. Today, the Solar Decathlon has grown to include more than 25,000 alumni, hundreds of zero energy buildings, and high-performance, low-carbon designs that go far beyond solar.  

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, we talked with Kathleen Robertson, director of policy, government affairs, and markets at Sol Systems, about her experience on the University of Virginia team during the inaugural competition.

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One month remains for collegiate teams to register for the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon^® cycle! Change the status quo of the built environment by imagining a zero-energy building of the future as part of the hands-on 2023 Design Challenge.

Register your team today! Registration closes on October 26 at 5 p.m. ET.

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Interested in making an impact on climate change through the Solar Decathlon but not sure where to start? The 2023 Design Challenge is accepting registrations through October 26 at 5 p.m. ET!

Check out the recording of the 30-minute Kickoff Webinar for an overview of this year’s design-only competition, as well as organizer tips.

Many teams use the Design Challenge as an on-ramp to the two-year Build Challenge, where teams construct or renovate permanent homes in their local communities. The next Build Challenge opens for registrations in July 2023.

Register for the 2023 Design Challenge today! Registration is free, several months remain before deliverables are due, and you can change your registration at any time.

For more information, visit the Solar Decathlon website.