The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced the winners of the 21st annual Solar Decathlon.
This event is the longest running student competition offered by the DOE, according to an April 24 news release. College students are challenged to design high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy.
“As we work to build America’s clean energy future and implement President Biden’s ambitious climate agenda, we need dedicated leaders who are ready to undertake any challenge before them with pride and passion,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk said in the release.
Top honors were given to Ball State University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art at an event held April 23 in Golden, Colo., according to the release. The contest includes the Design Challenge, which is a single or two-semester design-only competition, and the Build Challenge, which is a two-year design-build contest.
The competition aims to "promote students innovation, STEM education and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry," the release reported.
“I was proud to meet so many inspiring students and faculty this past weekend at the Solar Decathlon, each of whom demonstrated the ingenuity and enthusiasm critical to ensuring the benefits of clean energy will be spread far and wide,” Turk added, according to the release.
Since its inception in 2002, more than 40,000 students around the world have taken part in the Solar Decathlon, the release reported. Many of these students have pursued careers in engineering, architecture and research.
Furthermore, two alumni are chosen each year for the Richard King award, honoring individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Solar Decathlon events, competitors or the wider clean energy transition, according to the release. The recipients were Sarah Klinetob Lowe, solar program manager at the Clean Energy Center at Penn College, who won the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award. The 2023 Outstanding Faculty Award went to Edoarda Corradi Dell'Acqua, senior lecturer at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
