University of Colorado Wins the 2005 Solar Decathlon

October 14, 2005

Photo of the north side of a boxcar-shaped house with a slightly tilted roof, two groups of small windows, one group of larger windows, and a door in the center.

The University of Colorado team constructed their energy-efficient modular home using prefabricated walls of soy insulation sandwiched between waste-paper boards. The roof sports nearly 7 kilowatts of solar power.
Credit: Solar Decathlon

DOE named the University of Colorado as the overall winner of the 2005 Solar Decathlon on October 14th in Washington, D.C. After operating their house on the National Mall under cloudy skies all week, the Colorado team defended their 2002 championship by earning 853 points of a possible 1,100. The team took first place in the Documentation and Communication contests and drove the farthest in their electric car: 318.8 miles. Cornell University placed second after earning 826 points and winning the Comfort Zone and Hot Water competitions. California Polytechnic State University finished third with 809 points after winning in both Appliances and Lighting. And despite taking an early lead by winning the Architecture and Dwelling contests, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ended up in fourth place with 784 points. See the DOE press release and visit the Solar Decathlon Web site for the list of contest winners.

The 2005 Solar Decathlon challenged 18 collegiate teams from 13 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Spain to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory is the primary sponsor of the Solar Decathlon, along with the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, BP Solar, the DIY Network, and Sprint Nextel. See photos, a daily journal, and the full scores and standings from the event on the Solar Decathlon Web site.