The US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon announced the 2009 winners of its biennial competition, which challenged 20 colleges and universities from around the world to design, build, and operate the most habitable, energy-efficient house powered exclusively by the sun.
Taking the crown for the second year in a row was Team Germany, (see their winning design above);
University of Illinois finished second, (above, Left photo) and Team California at third, (above, Right photo). Check out other teams’ photos here.
The winner was determined as the team that best combined design and modern amenities with optimal energy production and efficiency. Teams were awarded $100,000 over the course of two years to complete their designs, and were evaluated on the following criteria:
- Architecture
- Market Viability
- Engineering
- Lighting Design
- Communications
- Comfort
- ZoneHot Water
- Appliances
- Home Entertainment
- Net Metering
You can check out the teams’ individual scores here.
Although there’s only one winning title, all these designs direct us toward a brighter future. With homes and buildings accounting for 40% of energy consumption, the real-world applications produced by this competition bring us another step closer to zero-carbon footprints.
The next Solar Decathlon is scheduled for 2011. If you and six other schoolmates are interested in participating, check out the 2011 Request for Proposals. The deadline is November 17, 2009 so hurry!
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