Motivation: Solar Decathlon - Contests & Scoring

Similar to the the well-known Olympic decathlon, the Solar Decathlon consists of ten contests, which focus on the ways we utilize energy in our daily lives—at work, at home, and at play.

To compete, teams must design and build energy-efficient homes powered exclusively by the sun. Homes must be attractive and easy to live in. In addition, they must maintain a comfortable temperature, provide attractive and adequate lighting, power household appliances for cooking and cleaning, power home electronics, and provide hot water. Houses must also power an electric vehicle to meet household transportation needs.

Several contests are scored by measuring performance, such as meeting certain lighting-level or temperature requirements, while others require the successful completion of tasks. Contests are scored by judges who are experts in architecture, engineering, and other appropriate fields. The subjective judging evaluates things that measurements cannot, such as aesthetics and comfort. Many contests are scored by a combination of these methods.