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Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge |
Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge |
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Are you interested in designing high-performance buildings that tackle climate change and promote environmental justice? Do you love the thrill of competing with and getting to know top students across the country and around the world? If so, the U.S Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is for you! |
U.S. Department of Energy |
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) |
The Solar Decathlon partners with building industry sponsors who provide technical support for project teams, invaluable jury feedback, and once-in-a-lifetime networking and talent recruitment opportunities for student participants. Learn more on the Solar Decathlon Sponsor webpage. |
|
2021/06/15 12:00 AM |
2021/10/26 5:00 PM |
FY21, FY22 |
Other |
Rachel Romero |
# Description
**General Overview**
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is a collegiate competition that challenges student teams to design highly efficient, innovative, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy. The 10 Contests of the Solar Decathlon address building science, energy efficiency, occupant experience, community needs, affordability, resilience, and embodied environmental impact.
Collegiate teams that compete in the annual Design Challenge create residential or commercial building designs that will be evaluated on how well they meet the nation’s rapidly evolving demand for innovative, cost-effective, quick-to-build, high-quality, resilient, grid-interconnected, efficient buildings that respond to targeted community needs. The program is excited to offer six different divisions: New Housing, Retrofit Housing, Attached Housing, Multifamily Building, Office Building, and Education Building. Teams can start planning now for the Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge.
The 2022 Design Challenge adds a new building Division—Retrofit Housing—and has combined other Divisions to better focus on improving the current building stock. In the Retrofit Housing Division, teams modify an existing dwelling that consists of one or two units. Through renovation, the building will reach zero energy construction through upgrades to systems, such as plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and envelope. Partnerships with building owners are also encouraged to develop zero energy designs for real building projects across the country and around the world.
Details about the Design Challenge are available on the [Solar Decathlon website](https://www.solardecathlon.gov/2022/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules.pdf).
**Key Dates**
* **July 2021** – Design Challenge Competition Team Application opens; Rules released
* **September 26, 2021** – Ready, Set, Solar Decathlon Event
* **October 26, 2021** – Design Challenge Team Application due
* **September 2021 to March 2022** – Webinars and Building Science Education offered
* **February 2022** – All teams complete Project Proposal and finalize Division selection
* **April 2022** – Design Challenge Finalist Teams complete their project submissions and present to industry leaders. |
# Prizes
**Non-monetary Prizes**
Winning teams are recognized at an awards banquet with handcrafted trophies, and winning project presentations are published on the Solar Decathlon website. The competition and winners are promoted through a variety of media outreach efforts, which provide participants and their collegiate institutions an opportunity for international exposure. Collegiate institutions that participate in the Solar Decathlon are recognized as leaders who are producing career-ready professionals with cutting-edge skills. |
# Rules
Participants should review the rules and competition details, available at:
* **External URL:** <https://www.solardecathlon.gov/event/challenges-design.html>
* **Rules:** <https://www.solardecathlon.gov/2022/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules.pdf>
**Eligibility Requirements**
The eligibility criteria and competition details are available at:
* <https://www.solardecathlon.gov/event/challenges-design.html>
* <https://www.solardecathlon.gov/assets/pdfs/sd-competition-guide.pdf> |
# Judging Criteria
**Judging Panel**
The competition culminates in the Solar Decathlon Competition Event, where student teams present their designs to a panel of industry experts.
**Judging Criteria**
Project submissions are evaluated by jurors according to 10 Contests, described in the [Rules](https://www.solardecathlon.gov/2022/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules.pdf). All Contests are equally weighted. |
# How to Enter
**Entry Instructions**
2022 Design Challenge Teams may apply and begin projects as early as July 2021. All teams that apply by the October 26, 2021, deadline will be accepted to participate. The application link is available on the [Solar Decathlon website](https://www.solardecathlon.gov/about-apply.html).
For the application, each team:
* Identifies a Faculty Lead
* Pays a nonrefundable $50 application fee.
Participating Teams will be confirmed and announced in November. Additional competition and submission dates are outlined in the [Rules](https://www.solardecathlon.gov/2022/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules.pdf).
Ready to learn more? Teams interested in participating should [register](https://nrel.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscO2hrD0uHGtRn7bA-2cQ5PNIteRPnFE) for the Ready, Set, Solar Decathlon Event on September 16, 2021. Attendees will learn about the competition structure, resources including software licenses, Building Science Education credits, the Mentor program, stories from alumni, and a panel with experienced faculty sharing best practices. In the meantime, read about the Design Challenge on the [Solar Decathlon website](https://www.solardecathlon.gov/).
**Submission URL**
Teams can register to start their application and submit their deliverables on the [Project Site](https://solardecathlon.skild.com/skild2/nrel2021/loginPage.action). |
General Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is a collegiate competition that challenges student teams to design highly efficient, innovative, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy. The 10 Contests of the Solar Decathlon address building science, energy efficiency, occupant experience, community needs, affordability, resilience, and embodied environmental impact.
Collegiate teams that compete in the annual Design Challenge create residential or commercial building designs that will be evaluated on how well they meet the nation’s rapidly evolving demand for innovative, cost-effective, quick-to-build, high-quality, resilient, grid-interconnected, efficient buildings that respond to targeted community needs. The program is excited to offer six different divisions: New Housing, Retrofit Housing, Attached Housing, Multifamily Building, Office Building, and Education Building. Teams can start planning now for the Solar Decathlon 2022 Design Challenge.
The 2022 Design Challenge adds a new building Division—Retrofit Housing—and has combined other Divisions to better focus on improving the current building stock. In the Retrofit Housing Division, teams modify an existing dwelling that consists of one or two units. Through renovation, the building will reach zero energy construction through upgrades to systems, such as plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and envelope. Partnerships with building owners are also encouraged to develop zero energy designs for real building projects across the country and around the world.
Details about the Design Challenge are available on the Solar Decathlon website.
Key Dates
- July 2021 – Design Challenge Competition Team Application opens; Rules released
- September 16, 2021 – Ready, Set, Solar Decathlon Event
- October 26, 2021 – Design Challenge Team Application due
- September 2021 to March 2022 – Webinars and Building Science Education offered
- February 2022 – All teams complete Project Proposal and finalize Division selection
- April 2022 – Design Challenge Finalist Teams complete their project submissions and present to industry leaders.
Non-monetary Prizes
Winning teams are recognized at an awards banquet with handcrafted trophies, and winning project presentations are published on the Solar Decathlon website. The competition and winners are promoted through a variety of media outreach efforts, which provide participants and their collegiate institutions an opportunity for international exposure. Collegiate institutions that participate in the Solar Decathlon are recognized as leaders who are producing career-ready professionals with cutting-edge skills.
Participants should review the rules and competition details, available at:
- External URL: https://www.solardecathlon.gov/event/challenges-design.html
- Rules: https://www.solardecathlon.gov/2022/assets/pdfs/design-challenge-rules.pdf
Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility criteria and competition details are available at:
- https://www.solardecathlon.gov/event/challenges-design.html
- https://www.solardecathlon.gov/assets/pdfs/sd-competition-guide.pdf
Judging Panel
The competition culminates in the Solar Decathlon Competition Event, where student teams present their designs to a panel of industry experts.
Judging Criteria
Project submissions are evaluated by jurors according to 10 Contests, described in the Rules. All Contests are equally weighted.
Entry Instructions
2022 Design Challenge Teams may apply and begin projects as early as July 2021. All teams that apply by the October 26, 2021, deadline will be accepted to participate. The application link is available on the Solar Decathlon website.
For the application, each team:
- Identifies a Faculty Lead
- Pays a nonrefundable $50 application fee.
Participating Teams will be confirmed and announced in November. Additional competition and submission dates are outlined in the Rules.
Ready to learn more? Teams interested in participating should register for the Ready, Set, Solar Decathlon Event on September 16, 2021. Attendees will learn about the competition structure, resources including software licenses, Building Science Education credits, the Mentor program, stories from alumni, and a panel with experienced faculty sharing best practices. In the meantime, read about the Design Challenge on the Solar Decathlon website.
Submission URL
Teams can register to start their application and submit their deliverables on the Project Site.