WASHINGTON, DC – The German Technische Universitat Darmstadt today took an early lead in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon by winning the architecture contest – the first of ten contests - receiving 193.25 points out of a possible 200 points.  The Solar Decathlon is a competition where 20 university-led teams from across the United States, and from Canada, Germany, and Spain, are competing to design, build and operate the most attractive, functional, and energy efficient solar-powered home.  Following close behind the winning team from Germany, the University of Maryland finished in second place with 189.5 points, and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid finished in third place, with 187.5 points.

“Winning one of the most challenging contests in the Solar Decathlon is a major feat,” Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner said.  “Perfecting structural stability with the creative use of space is crucial to quality architecture for solar-powered homes, and I congratulate the three winning teams for bringing out a competitive spirit that challenges our next generation to think in new ways about how we use and produce energy.”

A jury of esteemed architects from industry and academia, including the American Institute of Architects, toured and judged homes for the Architecture contest.  The jury evaluated the following three factors:

• Commodity –Ease of entry into the house and circulation among the public and private areas; architectural strategy used to accommodate the technologies required to run the house; and generosity and sufficiency of space in the house
• Delight – Surprises, unusual use of ordinary materials, or use of extraordinary materials
• Firmness – The house’s strength, suitability and appropriateness of materials in the building

The ten contests that make up the Solar Decathlon measure many aspects of a home’s performance and appearance.  A perfect total score for all ten contests in the Solar Decathlon is 1,200 points.  And of the 10 contests, architecture is worth up to 200 points, followed by Engineering and Market Viability, which are each worth up to 150 points and are scored subjectively.  The other seven contests, each worth up to 100 points, measure performance and award points daily through the competition on: Lighting, Communications, Comfort Zone, Appliances, Hot Water, Energy Balance, and Getting Around.

The Communications contest, worth 100 points, will be announced tomorrow, October 16, at 10:00AM on the National Mall in the solar village.  The Solar Decathlon’s overall winner will be announced at 2:00PM on Friday, October 19, 2007.

The Solar Decathlon’s homes are zero-energy, yield zero carbon, and include the latest high-tech solutions and money-saving benefits to consumers, without sacrificing comfort, convenience, and aesthetics.  Each house must also produce enough “extra” energy to power an electric vehicle.  Many of the solar power and building technologies showcased on the National Mall are currently available for purchase and use.  Teams have worked for more than two years designing, building and testing their homes – the Solar Decathlon is the culmination of that work.

The Solar Decathlon complements President Bush’s Solar America Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity by 2015.  The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring this year’s Solar Decathlon, along with its National Renewable Energy Laboratory; the American Institute of Architects; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers; the National Association of Homebuilders; the U.S. Green Building Council; and private-sector sponsors BP and Sprint.   This year, more than 100,000 people are expected to tour the solar village.

Held on the National Mall in Washington, DC, DOE’s Solar Decathlon is open to the public through Saturday, October 20, 2007.  The houses are open for tours each day from 11:00AM to 3:00PM, except on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, when they will be closed for competition purposes.  For full event information, current standings, and high-resolution photos, visit the Solar Decathlon website.

Media contact(s):
Kevin Brosnahan, (202) 586-4940