Halftime at Solar Decathlon: Team California in the Lead

So it’s halftime at the 2009 Solar Decathlon. The contest pits 20 student teams from colleges and universities across the country (and a few even farther than that) against each other in a race to build the ultimate solar-powered home.

As of the close of competition on Tuesday, October 12, Team California is in first place. While Rice University held a narrow lead after the first weekend, Team California jumped into first place by winning two juried contests for Best Architecture and Communications. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the winner of the other individual contest announced thus far, Market Viability.

The contest, organized by the Department of Energy, began on October 8th and runs through October 16th (homes are open to the public through the 18th). Student teams have spent much of the last year fundraising, designing and building their individual solar homes. The homes are graded in 10 categories: Lighting Design, Communications, Market Viability, Engineering, Architecture, Comfort Zone, Hot Water, Appliances, Home Entertainment and Net Metering.

Following Team California and rounding out the top five are Team Germany, Illinois, Ontario/B.C. and Minnesota. Full frequently updated rankings can be found at solardecathlon.org.

Five of the 10 contest winners are determined by a panel of jurors who tour the homes throughout the week. The remaining contests are scored more objectively, either through measurements, such as maintaining a certain temperature level, or by the simulation and successful completion of real-world tasks like washing the dishes.

Goals driving the Solar Decathlon include raising awareness about solar energy, educating students and bridging the gap toward an affordable and viable solar-powered home.

The three remaining days will see the jury-picked winners for Lighting Design and Engineering announced, as well as the final measurements taken in the remaining categories and the announcement of this year’s overall winner. With about 156 points currently separating first and last place, and several hundred points yet to be awarded, this is still anybody’s Decathlon.

Posted on October 14th in Solar News by Dan.