This is the fourth Solar Decathlon - this year it features a stand-alone electrical micro-grid to which each team will have to connect their home. Starting on October 8, each home will be monitored in five areas related to performance and livability: comfort (maintaining comfortable temperature and humidity in the home), hot water (producing a sufficient quantity at a high enough temperature), appliances (such as keeping refrigerated items at the right temperature), home entertainment (running a television, computer, lights, and other devices), and net metering. For the net metering competition, homes must use zero net energy over the course of a week, and teams receive a bonus for producing more energy than their home consumes. Other contests rate the teams for their communications with the public and for the architecture, engineering, and market viability of their homes. The overall winner will be announced on October 16. See the Solar Decathlon's Contests and Scoring page.
Homes will open to the public October 9, and will be open for tours weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, through October 18 (with the exception of October 14). Not able to come to D.C.? You can keep up with the Solar Decathlon online through daily journals posted by DOE's Richard King, the Solar Decathlon director; photos of the day from the event; YouTube videos; time-lapse photos from three cameras at the event; blogs from the teams; the Solar Decathlon Facebook page (become a fan!); and even a Twitter feed!
DOE, Chinese Ministry Co-Host Their First Electric Vehicle Forum
The first U.S.-China Electric Vehicle Forum, which brought together 140 U.S. and Chinese officials to discuss progress in the electric vehicle industry and opportunities, concluded October 1 in Beijing, China. David Sandalow, DOE's assistant secretary for policy and international affairs, joined with Minister Wan Gang of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology to co-host the event, which highlighted the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry in both countries. The countries are the two largest auto markets and energy consumers, and together emit more than 40% of the world's greenhouse gases.
"The U.S. and China share a strong common interest in putting millions of electric vehicles on the road soon, which will lessen our dependence on foreign oil and help address the global climate challenge," said Sandalow. "Working together, we can accomplish more than acting alone."
The Electric Vehicle Forum provided a venue for experts to discuss recent developments and identify promising opportunities for collaboration on technical advances and policy issues.
The forum builds upon growing U.S.-China collaboration on clean energy technologies. In July, the US and China announced plans to develop a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) that will facilitate joint research and development on clean energy by bringing together teams of scientists and engineers and providing an information clearing house to help researchers in both countries. The CERC has identified clean vehicles as a priority for joint projects and is expected to help advance cooperative projects identified during the Electric Vehicle Forum. See the DOE press release.
Obama Administration Invests $300M in a Green Federal Fleet
The Obama Administration met its goal of investing $300 million from the ARRA in fuel-efficient vehicles for the federal fleet. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced on October 1 that it met the goal of purchasing the new vehicles in fiscal year 2009, which came to a close on September 30.
