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Posts tagged ‘solar decathlon’

Jan 27

Middlebury Chosen for 2013 Solar Decathlon

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that Middlebury College was one of 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013.

After November’s announcement of Middlebury’s bid, the College is buzzing with excitement with word of the selection.

Via Middlebury’s News Room, President Liebowitz said:

We are honored that our students will have the opportunity to represent Middlebury and the value and power of a liberal arts education in the Solar Decathlon. The team defied expectations in the last competition, overcoming a lack of an engineering education to create a sustainable and efficient home. With unwavering support from the community and institution, our students will meet the challenge once more.

After an incredible fourth place finish by the Middlebury Team at the 2011 Decathlon (with Self-Reliance, a 21st-Century New England farmhouse), the team’s 2013 bid takes a new direction.

More than 80 students have signed to be a part of the team for the In-Fill home. In-Fill is a home that, as Middlebury reports, “will adapt and evolve to inspire healthy, resourceful living on underutilized, neglected city properties. As the name suggests, the home will ‘fill in’ leftover urban spaces.”

This year’s competition will be held at Orange County Great Park, a change from the previous location of the National Mall. It is noted by the Department of Energy for its emphasis on sustainability. Fellow Vermont School, Norwich University, was also selected to compete in the competition. The full list of selected teams, and the Department of Energy’s announcement can be found here.

Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California, the competition site for Solar Decathlon 2013. (Photo courtesy of the Orange County Great Park Corp and Department of Energy.)

Founded in 2002, the Solar Decathlon is a biennial competition. The competition comprises of the decathlon’s 10 contests which gauge the performance, livability and affordability of each home.

Nov 11

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Middlebury Submits Bid To Compete in 2013 Solar Decathlon

Still riding high from their fourth place finish at the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, the Middlebury team has already begun to look ahead to the next Solar Decathlon competition. United States Senator from Vermont Patrick Leahy announced via Twitter early last week that the Vermont Congressional Delegation was supporting Middlebury’s proposal to compete in the 2013 decathlon.

Founded in 2002, the Solar Decathlon is an international, biennial competition to design and operate the most attractive and functional energy-efficient, solar-powered home. At the 2011 competition, Middlebury placed first in Market Appeal, Communications and Home entertainment, placing fourth overall and won the PBS “Sunny Ideas” people’s vote.

Oct 1

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Middlebury College’s ‘Self Reliance’ grabs 4th place in Solar Decathlon 2011

Team Middlebury’s Self Reliance placed fourth overall and won the competition’s final category, Market Appeal, which focused on the marketability, affordability, and buildability of the house. Middlebury also placed first in Communications and Home Entertainment earlier in the competition. Final scores by category, team, contest, and date can be found here. Read more

Sep 22

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Solar Decathlon House Ready for Presentation

The completed home, titled: "Self-Reliance"

UPDATE 9/28: After the results of the first six categories have come in, Middlebury sits in 6th  5th 4th! place, scoring high in both home entertainment and architecture.

UPDATE 9/25: Here’s a link to the scoring website, you can keep track of how “Self-Reliance” is doing in all ten categories.  You can also vote for Middlebury’s home for the People’s Choice award by voting here.

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If you aren’t already aware, Middlebury’s Solar Decathlon team is in D.C. and ready to present their newly constructed solar home after months and months of preparation.  The team started reconstructing the home in D.C. last week, and after a successful round of inspections, were the third team out of 19 to be deemed ready to present in this prestigious national competition.

Middlebury Magazine checked in with the team just a few days ago, check out their video and report. Additionally, the team has been taking beautiful videos and blogging the entire process, so definitely go over to their website if you are interested.

It is a really incredible project; I’m continually impressed with the standards Middlebury students set for themselves.  We’ll be following the judging closely, so check in soon for updates, or keep an eye on their blog or twitter, @MiddSD for updates from the team.

Feb 8

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Solar Decathlon Moved From National Mall

UPDATE: According to a letter sent to the sponsors of the Solar Decathlon, the event will be taking place this fall in Washington, D.C. in West Potomac Park, on the banks of the Potomac River and along the path between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Awesome!

 

In case you haven’t heard, Middlebury’s Solar Decathlon team was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to be one of 20 finalists that will build and present their solar-powered house.  The Solar Decathlon challenges college students to design, build, and operate solar powered houses that are at the same time cost-effective and energy efficient.

Here’s a video of Middlebury’s Solar Decathlon Team house walkthrough.

Since 2002, these houses have been built and displayed on the National Mall.  This location, not only attention-grabbing and central, is also a demonstration of the potential for renewable energy at the heart of policymaking in one of the most symbolic locations in D.C.  However, this year that may change.  Just a few weeks ago, the National Park Service rejected the Solar Decathlon permit request, forcing organizers to rush to find another location.

Middlebury student Ben Wessel ’11.5, wrote a post in the environmental blog Grist describing his disappointment about the change and his belief in the value of the National Mall as a symbol for progress in renewable energy.

By placing the latest in clean energy technology right in the heart of the nation’s capital, the Solar Decathlon is an incredibly effective advocacy and public education tool — illustrating the potential for a solar energy revolution and the importance of passing laws that make it easier for folks to “green” their homes… Let’s keep this symbol of our clean energy future at the literal center of our nation’s political system.

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