Skip Navigation to Main Content

Archive for May, 2010

Solar Decathlon 2011 Kicks Off With Schematic Design Review

Monday, May 24, 2010

Photo of a conference room filled with people clustered around banquet tables

Solar Decathlon 2011 teams listen to Director Richard King’s welcome speech.

More than 200 Solar Decathlon teams and organizers travelled from around the world to gather in Arlington, Virginia, May 21–22, 2010, for a schematic design review. The event marked the first in-person meeting for the full Solar Decathlon 2011 group.

The review began on Friday with a welcome speech by Solar Decathlon Director Richard King and team introductions. On Saturday, the teams met with individual Solar Decathlon organizers to review their plans for 2011.

Sessions focused on:

  • The Solar Decathlon 2011 building code
  • DC electrical requirements
  • Site operations
  • Health and safety
  • Public exhibit requirements
  • Team Web site requirements
  • Design deliverables
  • Competition strategy
  • The Affordability contest
  • Event logistics
  • Director introductions
  • Department of Energy resources.

In addition, teams were encouraged to take a hosted tour of the Solar Decathlon event site on the National Mall and visit the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Finalists: A Special Presentation exhibit at the National Building Museum.

Tags: , , ,
1 Comment »

Solar Decathlon Recognized as Civic Innovator by National Building Museum

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Photo of a sign that reads “A Salute to Civic Innovators, 2010 Honor Award, National Building Museum.”

The Solar Decathlon received a 2010 Honor Award for civic innovation from the National Building Museum on May 11, 2010.

On May 11, the National Building Museum presented the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon with a 2010 Honor Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations for making significant contributions to our nation’s building heritage through unique social and civic innovations.

The Solar Decathlon was honored for its commitment to educating the next generation of engineers, architects, and builders through a creative “whole-building approach” with renewable energy, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible systems.

The museum also presented Honor Awards to multidisciplinary design firm Perkins+Will and New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village founders Harry Connick Jr., Branford Marsalis, Ann Marie Wilkins, and Jim Pate.

For more information about the Honor Award, see the National Building Museum’s 2010 Honor Award press release.

Tags: ,
1 Comment »

National Building Museum Features Solar Decathlon Exhibition

Monday, May 10, 2010

On May 1, the National Building Museum opened U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Finalists: A Special Presentation. The exhibition features models of conceptual designs for solar-powered houses from the 20 collegiate teams competing in Solar Decathlon 2011. From now until the event opens on the National Mall in fall 2011, teams will transform these ideas into solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

Located just off the Museum’s Great Hall in the First Floor Galleries, the exhibition is designed to represent the houses on the National Mall and their relationship to the sun. To accomplish this, the models are arranged just as the houses will be constructed along Solar Decathlon’s Decathlete Way, and a set of gold dots across the gallery walls and ceiling represents the sun’s path when Solar Decathlon 2011 begins.

For more information, see the National Building Museum’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Finalists: A Special Presentation brochure (PDF 557 KB) and press release.

Where

National Building Museum
401 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line)       

WHEN

May 1–July 25, 2010

Tags: ,
2 Comments »