Collegiate teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2023 Build Challenge will hold community open houses for their zero energy homes April 4–18.
Eleven collegiate teams across the globe have spent nearly two years designing and building full-size, high-performance, low-carbon houses for the competition. These dwellings demonstrate creative solutions to real-world climate issues, as well as long-term durability for local environmental conditions.
See the Schedule of Open Houses to tour a zero energy Solar Decathlon Build Challenge home near you.
“Visiting a Solar Decathlon house used to be a rare opportunity available only to those folks who could travel to the National Mall in Washington DC or wherever the event took place. Now these homes are built in communities across the country and around the world so more people can see them,” said Holly Jamesen Carr, director of the Solar Decathlon at the U.S. Department of Energy. “The local build format also gives students the experience of sharing their innovations and solutions with their own communities.”
During the open houses, teams will offer tours of the homes, host educational activities, and explain the importance of their innovations and solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how they can make their own homes more energy efficient.
“Solar Decathlon homes are the result of incredible commitment as students and faculty advisors pour two years of hard work into their design and construction,” said Michael Young, Build Challenge competition manager. “It’s exciting to see their ideas come to life and have a positive impact on their communities.”
All teams will compete at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event, April 20–23, in Golden, Colorado, at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. At the event, teams will present across 10 contests in true decathlon style. The home that performs best across all categories will become the 2023 Build Challenge Overall Winner. Join the awards ceremony livestream on April 23, 10 a.m. ET, to see which team takes home the first-place trophy!
About the Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® collegiate competition prepares the next generation of building professionals to design and build high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables. The Design Challenge is a one- to two-semester, design-only competition, while the Build Challenge is a two-year design-build competition.
The Solar Decathlon has challenged more than 25,000 students to create efficient, affordable buildings powered by renewables, while promoting student innovation, STEM education, and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry.
Additional details are available on the Solar Decathlon website.