The ten contests that form the Solar Decathlon are:
| Contest 1. Architecture (200 points) |
| A jury of architects will evaluate the house in relation to the principles of firmness, commodity, and delight. |
| Contest 2. Dwelling (100 points) |
| A panel of judges, composed from the interior and industrial design professions, the building industry, writers, and the public, will measure the ability to design and build a house that will appeal to potential homebuyers and homebuilders. The panel will judge the home in terms of livability and "buildability." |
| Contest 3. Documentation (100 points) |
| Three sets of drawings and submittals are analyzed to determine construction considerations, system operation parameters and requirements, Rules and Regulations compliance, and code and design standards compliance. |
| Contest 4. Communication (100 points) |
| This contest is comprised of three Contest Activities. Communications experts will judge the Web Site Contest Activity. Public relations experts will judge the House Tours Contest Activity. Both sets of experts will also judge the Branding Effectiveness Contest Activity. |
| Contest 5. Comfort Zone (100 points) |
| Houses will be judged according to their interior comfort in addition to their indoor environment and air qualities. Interior comfort will be measured by a team's ability to control temperature and humidity within narrow ranges inside the houses. |
| Contest 6. Appliances (100 points) |
| This contest measures the ability to meet the appliance energy use of the average American home. Teams must maintain a certain temperature in their refrigerators and freezers, power a washer and dryer for clothing, prepare cooked meals, clean dishes with a dishwasher, and supply energy for six hours of television and eight hours of computer use. |
| Contest 7. Hot Water (100 points) |
| Ten shower tests will be conducted during the competition week. A panel of judges will also evaluate the novelty and efficiency of the hot water system. |
| Contest 8. Lighting (100 points) |
| Houses will be judged according to their lighting efficiency, ability to deliver ample amounts of light, innovation, and aesthetics. |
| Contest 9. Energy Balance (100 points) |
| This contest measures the efficiency of a team's solar electric (photovoltaic system) to meet all energy demands for the competition. |
| Contest 10. Getting Around (100 points) |
| This contest logs the number of miles that a team's electric car can be driven using surplus energy from the house. |
The overall point leader from the ten contests will be the winner of the Solar Decathlon.
Please visit the official DOE Solar Decathlon web site for additional information: