Solar Decathlon 2013 Site and Teams Announced!

There's some exciting news in the world of sustainability education! Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the new site and schools for the 2013 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is one of the premier educational and energy events in the world. Colleges and universities are tasked with creating the most aesthetically pleasing, affordable and energy efficient house, which they then have to ship and construct at the competition site. The prestigious event has been held every two years since 2002 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Yet, the 2013 version will be held for the first time in Irvine, California's Orange County Great Park - "the first great metropolitan park of the 21st century" - a fitting home for the event. Regardless of the location, the Solar Decathlon is a fantastic way for the public to witness innovation in action, and to glimpse the real-life practicality of solar energy – it’s affordablity, and how it works!

The Education Department at Earth Day Network had the privilege of working with the 2011 Solar Decathlon on the companion middle school curriculum, in addition to delivering workshops during the Decathlon’s “Education Days”. We had a wonderful time working with the Department of Energy and all of the other partners and schools, and we are excited to see what is to come!

As for the 2013 competition, twenty lucky teams were selected from scores of applications from schools around the world. Now, these schools have the opportunity of a lifetime: Design, engineer, build and operate the most energy-efficient, affordable, and appealing solar-powered homes in the world - all within an eighteen month timeline. We wish the following participants much luck in their future solar endeavors:

·         Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico 

·         Czech Technical University 

·         Hampton University and Old Dominion University 

·         Middlebury College 

·         Missouri University of Science and Technology 

·         Norwich University 

·         Queens University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College 

·         Santa Clara University 

·         Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology 

·         Stanford University 

·         Stevens Institute of Technology 

·         The Catholic University, George Washington University, and American University 

·         The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

·         The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College 

·         University of Calgary 

·         University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky

·         University of Nevada Las Vegas 

·         University of Southern California 

·         Vienna University of Technology 

·         West Virginia University