Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real Estate Law Blog
On Saturday, October 12, 2013, Team Austria from the Vienna University of Technology, the first-time U.S. competitor, was recognized as the winner of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. The Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the Decathlon is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
Team Austria also won first place in the Communications Contest, tied for second place in Market Appeal, and tied for third place in Engineering. In measured contests, it received first place in the Hot Water and Energy Balance contests.
University of Las Vegas Nevada won second place in the overall competition, and Czech Technical University won third place.
Earlier in the day, Team Ontario from Queen’s University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College won first place for the Engineering Contest. Czech Technical University from the Czech Republic won second place, and Team Austria from Vienna University of Technology, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and University of Nevada Las Vegas tied for third place. The Engineering Contest jurors evaluated the houses’ energy-efficiency savings, creative design innovations, and the functionality and reliability of each system.
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte won the People’s Choice Award, an award that gave the public the opportunity to vote for its favorite house.
The 10 contests were:
• Architecture Contest (juried)
• Market Appeal Contest (juried)
• Engineering Contest (juried)
• Communications Contest (juried)
• Affordability Contest (juried)
• Comfort Zone Contest (measured)
• Hot Water Contest (measured)
• Appliances Contest (measured)
• Home Entertainment Contest (measured and juried)
• Energy Balance Contest (measured)
The Scores & Standings for the Decathlon competition teams were as follows:
1. Team Austria: Vienna University of Technology – 951.922
2. University of Nevada Las Vegas – 947.572
3. Czech Republic: Czech Technical University – 945.142
4. Stevens Institute of Technology – 939.176
5. Stanford University – 933.125
6. Team Ontario: Queen’s University, Carleton University and Algonquin – 926.478
7. Team Capitol DC: The Catholic University of America, George Washington University and American University – 920.267
8. Middlebury College – 920.262
9. Team Alberta: University of Calgary – 913.574
10. University of Southern California – 906.203
11. Santa Clara University – 888.929
12. Norwich University – 876.928
13. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte – 870.210
14. Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology – 868.666
15. Kentucky/Indiana: University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky – 850.079
16. Missouri University of Science and Technology – 840.455
17. Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico – 823.165
18. Team Texas: The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College – 776.454
19. West Virginia University – 774.742
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Additional Resources: U.S. Department of Energy
Photo: EvelynGiggles, Taken Jan. 24, 2009 – Creative Commons