Solar Decathlon Celebrates 20 Years of Building Impact

Kelly MacGregor, Linh Truong, Holly Jamesen Carr, Christopher Schwing, Nicole Leon-Molina, Alexis Powers, Emily Laidlaw, Rachel Romero, Joseph Simon, Michael Young, Stacey Rothgeb, Taylor Ryan

Research output: NRELPoster

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is a collegiate competition that has inspired students worldwide to enter the clean energy workforce since its inception. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, the Solar Decathlon has challenged more than 25,000 students to create efficient, affordable buildings powered by renewables, while promoting student innovation, STEM education, and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry. Compelling graphics, videos, and visuals are being developed to launch a 20th anniversary campaign in January 2022. These graphics include an interactive 20th anniversary infographic, a "Solar Decathlon - By the Numbers" video, and a graphic highlighting the diverse group of more than 25,000 past participants. In presenting these graphics at the ACEEE summer 2022 panel, attendees will be exposed to the latest communications techniques to apply to their own work. The Solar Decathlon invests in compelling visuals to recruit and inspire an imaginative and diverse group of participants each year - something that organizations of all sizes in the energy efficiency sector also need to do as they recruit for new talent. The Virtual Village of the 2020 Build Challenge homes (with more than 11,000 unique views) and the map of past competition houses highlight the competition's emphasis on multimedia that connects with competitors and the general public. Using more than 4,400 publicly available photos, including engaging virtual event snapshots with Department of Energy leaders, the Solar Decathlon captures the innovate ideas of the Build Challenge and Design Challenge teams in a way that everyone can understand.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - 2022

Publication series

NamePresented at the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 21-26 August 2022, Pacific Grove, California

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/PO-5500-82566

Keywords

  • collegiate competition
  • Solar Decathlon
  • STEM

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