Solar thermal magazine Schneider Electric to Sponsor U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013
Solar Decathlon Support includes launch of Solar Village micro-grid and donation of electric vehicle charging stations.
Palatine, Ill. – August, 2013 — Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, today announced its sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013, an award-winning program that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. As a Sustaining Sponsor of the competition, Schneider Electric is supporting 10 of the 20 teams by supplying energy management products for use in the houses. Schneider Electric will also provide technology and engineering services required to implement a fully-functioning micro-grid solution — the connection between the houses and the local utility to provide excess solar energy to the grid and showcase the opportunities for renewable energy technology within smart communities.
About the Solar Decathlon.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011.
The next event will take place Oct. 3–13, 2013, at 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.
See the tentative site map
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Open to the public free of charge, the Solar Decathlon gives visitors the opportunity to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today.
Purpose
The Solar Decathlon:
- Educates students and the public about the money-saving opportunities and environmental benefits presented by clean-energy products and design solutions
- Demonstrates to the public the comfort and affordability of homes that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems available today
- Provides participating students with unique training that prepares them to enter our nation’s clean-energy workforce.
Impact
Since 2002, the Solar Decathlon has:
- Involved 112 collegiate teams, which pursued a multidisciplinary approach to study the requirements for designing and building energy-efficient, solar-powered houses
- Established a worldwide reputation as a successful educational program and workforce development opportunity for thousands of students
- Affected the lives of nearly 17,000 collegiate participants
- Expanded to currently include 65 participating teams and nearly 10,000 students in three competitions around the world: Solar Decathlon Europe 2012, Solar Decathlon China 2013, and the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013
- Educated the public about the benefits, affordability, and availability of clean energy solutions by generating widespread media coverage and harnessing digital tools to reach tens of millions of people.
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