Solar Decathlon: Design and build the building of the future

Solar Decathlon is an international contest where student teams from universities around the world compete to design and build a full-scale, energetically self-sufficient house.

Since it was founded in 2002, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. First launched by the US Department of Energy, Solar Decathlon challenges are now also carried out in Europe and China.

The video of the 2014 Solar Decathlon

The challenge seeks to promote research in the field of energy-efficient, sustainable housing. Like any decathlon, entries are evaluated according to ten criteria structured around the themes of, architecture, construction, comfort and energy, with special attention going to the societal and urban approach adopted. Further factors include the teams’ communications efforts and the social awareness they are able to raise.

If you’d like to participate, prepare yourself for an intense and intensely rewarding experience with students from all four corners of campus, scientific advisors, and industrial partners. You will be invited to pursue a specific curriculum tailored to the needs of the challenge. Besides two summer workshops, one in 2014 and another in 2015, courses will include design studios, theoretical classes, and semester and Master’s projects. ENAC students can also benefit from the Minor’s degree program in Integrated Design, Architecture, and Sustainability.

The first summer workshop will be held from the 7th to the 25th of July. During the course of three weeks, participating students will have the opportunity to travel to Versailles and visit the 20 projects developed for the 3rd European edition of Solar Decathlon. Based on this experience and on selected theoretical courses and conferences, they will then draft a catalogue of concepts upon which EPFL’s contribution could be based.

For more information on EPFL’s candidature and to apply for a spot, go to solardecathlon.epfl.ch.