Solar Decathlon Europe
Encyclopedia
The Solar Decathlon Europe is an international competition that challenges collegiate teams to design and build houses powered exclusively by the sun. The winner of the competition is the team able to score the most points in 10 contests.
Modeled after the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
, the first Solar Decathlon Europe took place in Madrid
, Spain, in June 2010. Decathletes from 17 teams spent 10 days competing in the Villa Solar near the Royal Palace of Madrid
(Palacia Real). A combination of task completion, measurement, and jury scoring determined Solar Decathlon Europe's first champion: Virginia Tech
. The next Solar Decathlon Europe will occur in spring/summer 2012.
On Oct. 18, 2007, the Spanish and U.S. governments signed a memorandum of understanding in which the Spanish Ministry of Housing committed to organize and host Solar Decathlon Europe. The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., next to the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid’s Casa Solar during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2007 competition. The American signatory was Alexander A. Karsner, assistant secretary of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department of the U.S. Department of Energy, with Fernando Magro Fernández, undersecretary of housing of the Ministry of Housing representing the Spanish government.
This competition takes place during even years, alternating with the U.S.-based competition, by agreement between the United States
and Spanish
governments.
Modeled after the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an international competition that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house...
, the first Solar Decathlon Europe took place in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain, in June 2010. Decathletes from 17 teams spent 10 days competing in the Villa Solar near the Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid...
(Palacia Real). A combination of task completion, measurement, and jury scoring determined Solar Decathlon Europe's first champion: Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. The next Solar Decathlon Europe will occur in spring/summer 2012.
On Oct. 18, 2007, the Spanish and U.S. governments signed a memorandum of understanding in which the Spanish Ministry of Housing committed to organize and host Solar Decathlon Europe. The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., next to the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid’s Casa Solar during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2007 competition. The American signatory was Alexander A. Karsner, assistant secretary of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department of the U.S. Department of Energy, with Fernando Magro Fernández, undersecretary of housing of the Ministry of Housing representing the Spanish government.
This competition takes place during even years, alternating with the U.S.-based competition, by agreement between the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
governments.
External links
- U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
- Solar Decathlon Europe
- Very Cool Solar Homes - slideshow by Life magazine
- Solar Decathlon 2010: Competing For The Greenest House - slideshow by The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...