Solar Decathlon 2009

Supporting Sponsors

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 is grateful to the following supporting sponsors for their contributions.

Alliance for Sustainable Energy

The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Alliance)—co-governed by Battelle Memorial Institute and Midwest Research Institute—manages and operates NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy. Alliance is pleased to be a sponsor of Solar Decathlon 2009 by providing uniform clothing needs and branded gift T-shirts for participants.

Under the guidance of Alliance, NREL is leading the way in the delivery of market-relevant sustainable energy innovation, integrating renewable in efficient systems at all scales, leading strategic energy analysis and deployment, and creating a laboratory of the future that is a model for sustainable development to support the profound transformation required to achieve a new energy future for the nation and the world.

American Institute of Architects

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) are long-time sponsors of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. For the 2009 competition, AIA and AIAS are providing the All-Team Open House dinner, co-sponsoring a student reception, and supplying water for the student decathletes. In addition, AIA and AIAS are offering architecture tours of the solar village and hosting a dinner for jurors.

Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. Since 1956, the AIAS has been helping build interest and enrich the educational experience of students (of all ages) and others in architecture and design.

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Solar Decathlon. In 2009, ASHRAE's participation includes recruiting a team of "official observers"; co-sponsoring the student reception; providing water bottles, books and services to the university teams; and promoting Solar Decathlon 2009 to ASHRAE members.

ASHRAE's involvement in Solar Decathlon 2009 is a natural progression from the society's long-standing role in energy guidance. ASHRAE is at the forefront of improving the technologies that make energy-efficient, healthy and comfortable buildings possible. ASHRAE established the principles and guidance for proper indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and comfort that the Solar Decathlon 2009 participants integrate in their design efforts.

ASHRAE's 50,000 members worldwide are committed to economic energy-efficiency standards and advanced energy-efficiency guidance. ASHRAE is the foundation of energy conservation in buildings.

Dell

Dell is proud to be part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009. As the sponsor of the text-message voting system for this year's People's Choice Award, Dell encourages you to vote for your favorite Solar Decathlon 2009 house.

Technology Business Research recently called Dell "the most environmentally progressive IT vendor in the world." Dell is incredibly proud of that, but the company knows it has more work to do. Dell is committed to becoming the "greenest" technology company on the planet. For more than a decade, Dell has built environmental considerations into every aspect of its business. Dell aspires to a zerowaste goal in its facilities and sources more than 25% of its global electricity needs from renewable sources such as wind and hydroelectric power. Dell also offers free and convenient computer recycling programs, even for non-Dell-branded systems.

Dow Corning

As a supporter of Solar Decathlon 2009, Dow Corning is pleased to sponsor the electronic scoreboards that provide daily information to visitors on the National Mall.

One of the world's largest researchers, developers, and manufacturers of silicon-based materials, Dow Corning works with customers to develop, evaluate, and pilot materials solutions used to manufacture solar panels. The company delivers products that focus on improved cost efficiency, durability, and performance to the solar industry.

Dow Corning's long-term commitment to sustainability and solar energy solutions is demonstrated by investments of more than $5 billion to expand polycrystalline silicon capacity by 90% within the next four years and the construction of the company's first facility to produce high-purity monosilanes—the key raw material used in the production of thin-film solar cells and liquid crystal displays.

Meteor Solar LED Lighting

Meteor Solar LED Lighting is supporting the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 by providing solar-powered LED walkway lights for use in the solar village.

California-based Meteor Solar LED Lighting is one of the world's foremost green lighting companies. The company provides landscape architects, lighting designers, and engineers with high-quality, energy-efficient lighting solution for outdoor projects.

The specialty of Meteor Solar LED Lighting is integrating both solar and LED Technology in the most efficient and effective way, using the best-quality materials and components.

National Education Association

The National Education Association (NEA) is organizing Solar Education Day for Solar Decathlon 2009. By providing support to develop and broadcast educational programming to schools nationwide while the solar village is open to the public, NEA will help spread knowledge of the goals and objectives of Solar Decathlon 2009 among NEA's members and their students.

The nation's largest professional organization, NEA represents 3.2 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers. With an ongoing interest in sustainability of the planet, NEA is working in partnership with a growing number of organizations and businesses to expand the reach of green initiatives in communities across the country.

Ox Blue Inc.

A proud sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009, OxBlue is providing three time-lapse video cameras that are placed around the solar village. Images transmitted from these solar-powered cameras appear on the Solar Decathlon 2009 Web site.

OxBlue's rugged solar-powered cameras have been used around the world to reduce costs and save time on construction projects of all sizes. During the Solar Decathlon, the cameras will transmit live, high-definition images from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the entire world to view.

These dramatic images, and the time-lapse videos created from them, serve as testaments to the progress made in both construction camera and solar power technology.

Perkins+Will

Perkins+Will is sponsoring the All-Team Meeting for student participants of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009. In addition, the company is providing students with a meal on the National Mall and branded gifts.

As a first-time sponsor of the Solar Decathlon, Perkins+Will is proud to participate in an event that promotes the advancement of renewable energy solutions and helps develop the sustainability leaders of the future. As an international architecture, interior design, planning + strategies, branded environments, and urban design firm, Perkins+Will has nearly 75 years of commitment to social and environmental responsibility in its work.

Perkins+Will is known for forging relationships and uncovering innovation to achieve clients' vision and enhance daily life. The firm has built successful practices in the arenas of aviation + transit, corporate + commercial + civic, healthcare, higher education, K-12 education, and science + technology projects. Sustainable, high-performance and environmentally conscious design is a staple of its practice and is woven through the fabric of every project. Of Perkins+Will's staff members, more than 1,000 are LEED accredited, more than any other design firm in the world.

Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics magazine and PopularMechanics.com (PM) together represent a proud first-time sponsor of the Solar Decathlon. The October 2009 issue of Popular Mechanics is devoted to the theme of sustainability and includes a story on the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009.

In addition to celebrating the event in print and online, PM provided the U.S. Department of Energy with a free full-page ad to promote Solar Decathlon 2009 to the magazine's 9 million readers. Editors will be on site to cover the competition and lead public workshops on the future of solar energy, and PM volunteers will help with the event.

PM provides readers with solutions—from how to fix a leaking faucet to how to slow global warming. Its three-part "Know Your Footprint" series, which taught readers how to measure and reduce their energy, water, and waste footprints, won a National Magazine Award in 2008.

U.S. Green Building Council

The USGBC is proud to serve as a sponsor for Solar Decathlon 2009 by further advancing green building education to a new generation of building professionals.

USGBC is providing branded gifts to participants, co-sponsoring a student reception, and hosting a dinner for jury members. In addition, USGBC will be rewarding members of the winning student team with an all-expenses-paid trip to its annual conference, the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, this November.

USGBC, a nonprofit organization composed of leaders from across all building-related industries, is committed to expanding the green home market. LEED for Homes is the premier green homebuilding rating system, which has certified more than 2,500 homes. LEED for Homes promotes the design and construction of high performance homes that use less energy, water, and natural resources; create less waste; and are more healthy and comfortable for occupants.