Irvine, California - Assistant Secretary of Energy Dr. David Danielson commended the winners of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 today at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. Stevens Institute of Technology won top honors overall by designing, building, and operating the most cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive solar powered house. University at Buffalo, The State University of New York took second place followed by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in third place.
“On behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, thank you to each inspiring student competitor,” said DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Dr. David Danielson. “Your hard work makes this unique competition possible. The homes you built demonstrate how affordable, renewable, and energy-saving products available today can cut energy bills, reduce pollution, and protect our climate. You have shown the skills and dedication necessary to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout our economy in the decades to come.”
The teams competed in 10 contests throughout a nine-day stretch that gauged each house’s performance, livability and affordability. The teams performed everyday tasks including cooking, laundry and washing dishes, which tested the energy efficiency of each house. After all contest results were tallied, Stevens Institute of Technology earned 950.685 points out of a possible 1,000 to win the competition, followed by The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York with 941.191 points, and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with 910 points. Full competition results and details about the individual contests may be found at www.SolarDecathlon.gov.
“This prestigious competition to build energy-efficient solar-powered homes helps students prepare for successful careers in clean energy, and I want to recognize all of these teams for their hard work and creativity,” said Richard King, Director of the Solar Decathlon for the U.S. Department of Energy. “Today’s results are the culmination of two years of perseverance and dedication. These students have helped demonstrate to thousands of visitors and viewers how to start saving money and energy in their own homes today.”
The results of the Engineering Contest were also announced today, with Stevens Institute of Technology taking first place by scoring 93 of 100 possible points. For the Engineering Contest, each competing house was evaluated by a group of prominent engineers who determined which house best exemplifies excellence in innovation, system functionality, energy efficiency, system reliability, and documentation through their project manual, drawings and audiovisual presentations.
On behalf of the Engineering Contest Jurors, Tami Bui of Edison International, said, “The teams we selected as winners of this contest exhibit a dazzling display of innovative and integrated engineering solutions. The top three places the jury chose were a step above the rest of the competition.”
Team Orange County (University of California, Irvine; Chapman University; Irvine Valley College; and Saddleback College) claimed second place in the Engineering Contest with 92 points, and The University of Texas at Austin and Technische Universitaet Muenchen took third place with 91 points. Full details of the contest results are available at http://www.solardecathlon.gov/2015/competition-scores-engineering.html. For final overall standings visit: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/2015/competition-scores.html.
Student teams in the 2015 competition spanned five countries across two continents, including teams from universities in the United States, Germany, Honduras, Italy and Panama. Applications are available online for the eighth U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, to be held in the fall of 2017. Collegiate teams can apply here.
The highly efficient solar-powered houses will be open to the public for free tours today and for one final day on Sunday, October 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. There is a $10 fee per vehicle for public parking at the Orange County Great Park during the event (directions and a map). For full event information, standings, high-resolution photos and videos, visit www.SolarDecathlon.gov.
More about the Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate students from around the world to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy-efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. The competition shows consumers how to save money, water and energy with affordable clean energy products that are available today. The two-year projects culminate in an unprecedented display of affordable green living and design at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The Solar Decathlon also provides participating students with hands-on experience and unique training that prepares them to enter our nation’s clean energy workforce. Together, the energy innovations demonstrated during the event support the Energy Department's efforts to advance President Obama’s Climate Action Plan and help reduce climate-changing carbon emissions to meet the targets of the Clean Power Plan, while transitioning America to a clean energy economy and saving money for families and businesses.
