Solar Decathlon: The Results of the 2017 Competition

By Amanda Hermans

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The U.S. Department of Energy’s biennial Solar Decathlon competition wrapped up in Denver last weekend with the Swiss Team’s NeighborHub taking home the top prize.

"During the construction phase, I was impressed by the team’s determination. It was really hard; we were wet, tired, and cold, but everyone was driven by the project, because deep down, we believed in it," says Florian Meyer, telecommunications student from the Swiss Team. The team prevailed despite hurricane-related shipping delays.

Eleven teams made up of college students from around the world competed in the competition’s 10 different contests, striving for efficiency and excellence in categories such as energy use, appliance performance, market potential, innovation, and home life.

Teams had to demonstrate the functionality of their solar-powered homes by performing tasks such as laundry, cooking, and charging an electric car. Some of the 10 competitions were juried, while others, like appliance efficiency, were precisely measured.

“The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon provides real-world training and experience for the energy professionals of tomorrow,” says Daniel Simmons, the acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy. “It is also a live demonstration of innovative products available today that can help tackle global energy challenges such as reliability, resilience, and security.”

Here are the results of the nine-day competition, including some of the manufacturers and products used in the projects.

1. Swiss Team, NeighborHub

With 873 total points out of a possible 1,000, the Swiss Team won the 2017 Solar Decathlon competition by a 50-point margin. Their house, meant to be a neighborhood hub for sustainable living instead of a traditional single-family home, won in the architecture (100 out of 100), engineering (100), water (95), health and comfort (97), home life (99), and energy (100) categories. The team, made up of students from four Swiss universities, partnered with Swiss manufacturers such as Groupe E solar panels, Regent Lighting, and Hoval heating and cooling.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
2. Team Maryland, reACT

The team from the University of Maryland came in second place with a total of 823 points. The reACT home, short for Resilient Adaptive Climate Technology, won second place in innovation (93) and fourth in water (75) and appliances (97). The team used products such as Petersen Aluminum PAC-CLAD roofing and MOSA tiles. See our full coverage of the reACT home here.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
3. UC Berkeley/U of Denver, RISE

The partnership between the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Denver resulted in third place overall, with a total of 808 points. The team won the appliance category (99) and placed second in home life (99), energy (99), and health and comfort (96). The RISE home targets middle- and low-income families struggling to afford homes in the overcrowded Bay area. The project used appliances from Beko, an HVAC system from Mitsubishi, and solar panels from Panasonic.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
4. Missouri S&T, SILO

The Missouri S&T Solar House Design Team placed fourth in the 2017 competition, with 758 points overall. The team took third place in three categories, including appliances (97), innovation (90), and architecture (85). SILO, or Smart Innovative Living Oasis, uses farmhouse design to create a small and sustainable luxury home. It uses a GAF roofing system and an Enphase power storage system. See our full coverage of products in the SILO home here.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
5. Team Alabama, SURVIV(AL)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s SURVIV(AL) home came in fifth with 757 points. The home, meant to withstand natural disasters such as tornadoes, placed third in both home life (98) and energy (89). Team Alabama used an Ark Labs water monitoring system and Loewen casement windows. Find our full coverage of products in the SURVIV(AL) home here.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
6. House by Northwestern, Enable

The Enable home from Northwestern University placed sixth in the 2017 competition with 751 points overall. The team took first place in two categories: market potential (92) and communications (96). Northwestern also placed third in engineering (95) and won the Student Choice award, decided by middle schoolers who visited the Solar Decathlon village. The home, designed for aging in place, used CertainTeed drywall and Pureti surface coating to improve indoor air quality. See our full coverage of products in the Enable home here.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
7. Team Netherlands, Selficient

One of two teams from outside the United States, Team Netherlands placed seventh with 750 points. The Selficient home placed second in market potential (90) and third in water (81). Selficient also won the competition’s People’s Choice Award, voted on through Facebook. The self-sufficient home is based on cradle-to-cradle principles and uses a flexible modular system. The team partnered with manufacturers like LG, Suteki wood systems, and Suite Plants green wall products.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
8. Team Vegas, Sinatra Living

Team Vegas scored eighth (749) overall, but got first place in the innovation competition (98), and second place in engineering (98) and architecture (tie, 94). The Sinatra home is designed for desert living and aging in place. Team Vegas used a storage battery from Tesla and floor warming technology from Warmboard. See our full coverage of the Sinatra Living home here.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
9. UC Davis, Our H2Ouse

The entry from the University of California, Davis, placed ninth overall with 745 points. The team placed second in water (87) and communications (85) and third in health and comfort (95). Our H2Ouse is designed to weather California droughts, helping its inhabitants monitor and conserve water. UC Davis used products from manufacturers such as Jeld-Wen and Upofloor.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
10. Wash U- St. Louis, Crete House

Washington University in St. Louis scored 10th out of the 11 Solar Decathlon entries with 643 points, but tied for second in architecture (94) with their concrete design. The team set out to prove the viability of concrete as a durable, sustainable, and affordable housing material. The team used SunPower solar panels and Ductal precast concrete.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlonn
11. Team Daytona Beach, BEACH House

Team Daytona Beach scored 532 points, placing 11th in the 2017 Solar Decathlon competition. The team placed third in market potential (85). The BEACH House is designed to rejuvenate the historic area of Daytona Beach with senior-friendly, sustainable living spaces. The team used MacroAir fans and Blomberg appliances. See our full coverage of the BEACH House here.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon