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Solar Decathlon 2011

Appliances Contest

(100 points)

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Appliances Contest was designed to mimic the appliance use of an average U.S. home. Teams earned points for refrigerating and freezing food, washing and drying laundry, and running the dishwasher. Points were 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

  • 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

  • Running the dishwasher through a complete, uninterrupted cycle, at some point during which a temperature sensor placed in the dishwasher had to reach 120°F (48.9°C).