Preparing for the 2011 Solar Decathlon

Abstract

The Solar Decathlon is a high-profile international competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy where university students design, build, and demonstrate solar powered homes that are fully operational and cost effective. It is held every other year and has drawn in excess of 300,000 spectators plus significant national and international media coverage. This project is large and complex, even for a research university where students routinely participate in a variety of national and international competitions. Students have two years to make the home a reality, but the project encompasses far more than design and construction. Tasks like fundraising, public relations, marketing, and logistics are also significant efforts. In fact, the teamwork aspect of the Solar Decathlon might be one of the lasting legacies of the project. Students and faculty from nearly a dozen different departments that wouldn't normally have close collaborations are working together to get this project accomplished. This paper will discuss one team's preparations for the 2011 competition and provide insight about what outcomes other universities can expect by participating in this event. © 2011 American Society for Engineering Education.