Solar Decathlon Engineering Winner Announced

New Zealand Wins Engineering Contest at U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

WASHINGTON, DC – New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) took first place today in the Engineering Contest during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams from around the world to design, build, and operate houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. The teams spend almost two years creating houses that are currently competing in 10 contests on the National Mall’s West Potomac Park.

“Innovative engineering that maximizes energy efficiency in a home is the heart of the Solar Decathlon,” said Richard King, director of the Solar Decathlon for the U.S. Department of Energy. “The impressive houses designed by this year’s collegiate teams all have practical applications that can help every American family save money. This year’s houses are proving to be highly reliable, which is a testament to their engineering excellence.”

For the Engineering Contest, each competing house was evaluated by a group of prominent engineers who determined which house best exemplifies excellence in energy efficiency savings, creative design innovations, and the functionality and reliability of each system. New Zealand scored 93 out of a possible 100 points.

Engineering Juror Dr. Hunter Fanney, a chief mechanical engineer with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in its Building Environment Division, said, “New Zealand’s house represents an accomplishment of modern engineering and delivers significant energy savings. All of the Solar Decathlon student engineers have gained hands-on training that uniquely positions them to enter the workforce with valuable experience already under their belts.”

SCI-Arc/Caltech (The Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology) claimed second place in the Engineering Contest with 91 points, and The University of Tennessee took third place with 90 points. Full details on the contest results are available at www.SolarDecathlon.gov.