Challenging students to design and build solar-powered homes.

The Solar Decathlon is an international competition where collegiate teams design, build, and operate energy-efficient homes. The winner of the biennial event is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and efficiency.

The competition is an opportunity for the students to put years of learning into practice. The event’s prominent location—it’s been held in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles—is key to demonstrating the potential for zero-energy homes to the public.