UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WINS SOLAR DECATHLON 2011

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WINS SOLAR DECATHLON 2011

SUNDAY OCTOBER 2, 2011 LAST DAY TO SEE THE SOLAR HOUSES

Saturday, October 1, 2011
By Carol Anna

Consistently appearing in first place in overall standings throughout the competition, the University of Maryland won the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced the competition results today before an excited audience that packed the main tent in the solar village.

“Maryland is a well-experienced team. After taking second place in 2007, they rested and regrouped in 2009 and came to West Potomac Park in 2011 focused and determined to win,” said Solar Decathlon Director Richard King. “In addition, Maryland’s Watershed is a beautiful house, judged first place in Architecture, which also performed impeccably in measured contests. This team mastered their strategies to ensure they excelled in all 10 contests.”

Purdue University took second place in the competition, and New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) received the third-place award.

The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

Results for the fifth and final juried contest, Market Appeal, were announced today prior to the competition winners. Middlebury College placed first.

“Self-Reliance left the jury very impressed, eclipsing our expectations across the board in livability and marketability,” said Brad Beeson, Market Appeal juror. “Middlebury College defined its market carefully—a young family of four with a modest income for the region—and demonstrated the fit for that target market with a very compelling video.”

Maryland came in second in Market Appeal, and New Zealand came in third.

The Market Appeal contest judges each house’s livability, buildability, and marketability.

More final results, see the Solar Decathlon 2011 scores and standings:
1. Maryland 951.151
2. Purdue 931.390
3. New Zealand 919.058
4. Middlebury College 914.809
5. Ohio State 903.938
6. SCI-Arc/Caltech 899.490
7. Illinois 875.715
8. Tennessee 859.132
9. Team Massachusetts 856.351
10. Canada 836.423
11. Florida Int'l 833.159
12. Appalachian State 832.499
13. Parsons NS Stevens 828.816
14. Tidewater Virginia 774.910
15. Team China 765.471
16. Team Belgium 709.843
17. Team New York 677.356
18. Team New Jersey 669.352
19. Team Florida 619.006


SUNDAY OCTOBER 2, 2011 LAST DAY TO SEE THE SOLAR HOUSES

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 isn’t over yet! Tomorrow—Sunday, Oct. 2—is the last day the public can visit the solar village. And there’s plenty to do!

The houses will be on public display from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at West Potomac Park on the National Mall.

Consumer workshops run throughout the day, beginning at 10 a.m. You can learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies that can save you money at home. Workshops are free. For a list of tomorrow’s workshop topics, see the daily schedule.

Get directions to the site, see the free public shuttle schedule, or learn more about tours of the houses and village.

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


Read more (in new window) at: www.solardecathlon.gov/blog/archives/1906

Read more (in new window) at: www.solardecathlon.gov

To top of blog usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com