Mark your calendar! The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 will take place Oct. 3–13, 2013, at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

The competition houses will be open to visitors on eight days over two weekends. Public hours will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily: 

• Thursday, Oct. 3–Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013
• Thursday, Oct. 10–Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013.

This free event will showcase 20 highly efficient, solar-powered houses in a specially constructed solar village at the Orange County Great Park. Visitors can gather ideas to use in their own homes and learn about energy-saving features and products that can help them save energy and money.

For more information, see the Orange County Great Park’s media release.

Carol Anna is the communications manager of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

The next generation of solar innovators continued to arrive by the busload to the solar village in West Potomac Park today. Between Monday, Sept. 26, and Tuesday, Sept. 27, more than 66 buses brought local eighth-grade students to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Eighth-grade students arrive at the solar village for Solar Education Days. (Credit: Alexis Powers/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

Solar Education Days provide a great opportunity for hands-on learning for these students. There are educational programs in the main tent and education tent as well as village quizzes and house tours tailored for school-age children.

Mentors guide student groups from house to house at Solar Decathlon 2011. (Credit: Alexis Powers/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

“These kids look up to you teams,” Richard King told the decathletes in yesterday’s all-team meeting. “Your passion and excitement will help inspire them to become architects and engineers one day.”

It seems the solar spirit is indeed catching on with the student groups. The question “Is this more fun than sitting at your desk?” was always met with a resounding “Yes!”

Although the Solar Education Days program is focused on eighth-graders, any school group is welcome to visit the village during our public exhibit hours.

There are no limits on learning in the solar village.

Two younger schoolchildren enjoy a day at Solar Decathlon 2011. (Credit: Alexis Powers/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

Alexis Powers is a member of the Solar Decathlon communications team.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon welcomed building industry professionals today with a series of workshops held in the Main Tent. Topics included “A Look at Industry Trends in Building Designs,” “Building the Solar Heating and Cooling Industry,” and “The Key to Sustaining Energy-Efficient Behaviors.”

Larry Schoen speaks about high-performance green building standards at Building Industry Day. (Credit: Alexis Powers/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

In addition to the workshop presentations, building professionals were able to learn from the student decathletes and their ultra-efficient houses.

“We definitely found some interesting things in the houses,” said Rusty Minnick, a local business owner who brought members of his company’s green team to the solar village to get ideas for educating homeowners.

Rusty Minnick (far left), Rob Minnick, and members of their company’s green team attended Building Industry Day. (Credit: Alexis Powers/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

Consumer workshops will be held Sept. 24–25 and Sept. 28–Oct. 2 in the Main Tent at West Potomac Park. See the full schedule, and plan to come learn from the best in the business as well as the student teams.

Alexis Powers is a member of the Solar Decathlon communications team.

Richard King features speakers from today’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Opening Ceremony.

Today’s Opening Ceremony for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 brought the solar village to life. More than 600 students and invited guests attended the event, which featured dignitaries, sponsors, and Solar Decathlon Director Richard King.

Richard King addresses the audience at the Opening Ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 22. (Photo from Lachlan Fletcher, Studio 18a)

Arun Majumdar, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), gave a rousing speech to start the program.

“In the future, you leaders will be sitting across the table to figure out how to make this world a better place for your children and your grandchildren,” said Dr. Majumdar. “Let the Solar Decathlon be the start of that personal relationship.”

Senator Robert Menendez was another crowd favorite. After Solar Decathlon 2009, Sen. Menendez put out a challenge to all universities in his home state. Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology answered his call to action and formed Team New Jersey.

Distinguished speakers (from left: Richard King, Arun Majumdar, Beatriz Corredor, Liang Zhi-peng, and Elisabeth Neigert) listen as Sen. Menendez addresses the audience. (Photo from Lachlan Fletcher, Studio 18a)

Sen. Menendez recognized the many student experts—from architects and engineers to carpenters and pizza wranglers— that come together to create a Solar Decathlon house.

“You’re leading us to a brighter, cleaner, greener, smarter future,” he said.

Other speakers—including Beatriz Corredor from Solar Decathlon Europe, Liang Zhi-peng from Solar Decathlon China, and the generous sustaining sponsors—provided additional congratulations and inspiration to the decathletes. Elisabeth Neigert from the SCI-Arc/Caltech team represented the decathletes in the ceremony’s final speech.

The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting that officially opened the solar village to VIPs.

“We’re off and running,” said Richard King. As Elisabeth Neigert said, may the best team win!

Richard King cuts the ribbon at Solar Decathlon 2011. (Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

Alexis Powers is a member of the Solar Decathlon communications team.