21 May Why is it Called Decathlon?
Author: Kristina Lamb
When first thinking of the word ‘decathlon,’ sports, specifically the Olympic Decathlon where individuals compete in ten track & field events, was the first thing that came to mind. In the Solar Decathlon’s case however, we will not be hurdling over solar panels or using them in a discus throw (could we be on to something?).
No, no- as entertaining as that may seem, the Solar Decathlon’s home will be judged and measured in ten different areas:
- Architecture Contest (juried)
- Market Appeal Contest (juried)
- Engineering Contest (juried)
- Communications Contest (juried)
- Affordability Contest (juried)
- Comfort Zone Contest (measured)
- Appliances Contest (measured)
- Home Life Contest (measured)
- Commuting Contest (measured)
- Energy Balance Contest (measured)
As listed on the U.S. Solar Decathlon website, teams will earn points in three different ways:
- Task completion
Teams complete household tasks such as cooking, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
- Monitored performance
Team houses perform to specified criteria, such as maintaining a comfortable (71°–76°F) indoor temperature range.
- Jury evaluation
Jurors who are experts in their field (such as architecture, engineering, and communications) award points for features that cannot be measured (such as aesthetics and design inspiration).
Check out some of the contests here.
Team OC has been hard at work training in their specified areas of expertise. The miles gained from running from campus to campus and meetings easily put our odometer ahead of other teams. Let’s be real though- this is a competition where quality outweighs quantity. However, a few thousand extra supporters for our home team would look pretty impressive. So mark your calendars and come represent Team OC on October 5th at the Irvine Great Park.
Only six more months till the finish line approaches! See you all there.
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