Information for Volunteers
The Solar Decathlon offers various areas for volunteers to lend their skills. To become a volunteer, review the following volunteer positions and decide which job fits best for you. Volunteers positions are needed to work as greeters and docents in the solar village, and to assist with registration, special events, and workshops. When you have decided which volunteer position you want, please take the following two steps:
Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
We encourage volunteers to sign up for multiple shifts. You will receive a confirmation email after you have signed up for your shifts.
Step Two: Register for the event
NOTE: the online volunteer registration is now closed. Please bring your COMPLETED Emergency Medical Release and Waiver of Liability forms to the event. Minors are required to fill out the Parental Consent (PDF 27 KB) form in addition to the Medical Release (PDF 33 KB) and Waiver of Liability forms (PDF 19 KB).
Questions: Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Mary-Lyn Chambers
Training Materials
Volunteering Basics
This quick guide gives detailed information on topics such as available positions, scheduling, attire, and the late/cancellation policy. (PDF 198 KB)
Frequently Asked Questions
For easy reference, these are the questions and appropriate responses to the most popular topics asked during the event. (PDF 219 KB)
Map of Solar Decathlon on the National Mall
The map provides the locations of the 20 teams and the two primary information centers.
2007 Solar Decathlon Schedule
This one-page schedule highlights the main events during the Decathlon. (PDF 96 KB)
2007 Solar Decathlon competition program
This is the document that volunteer greeters and docents hand out to visitors. It is an excellent overview of the event and competition. (PDF 4.5 MB)
Juror Biographies
The biographies provide background information on each juror, their area(s) of expertise and the contest they will be judging.
Description of Special Events
This document identifies the most significant activities, which are primarily open to only teams, sponsors and organizers. (PDF 182 KB)
Description of Workshops
These abstracts provide a summary of each workshop, whether geared towards consumers or industry professionals.
Event Safety Plan
The plan gives volunteers and staff specific steps and guidelines to follow in the event of an emergency. (PDF 605 KB)
Team Talking Points
The team talking points provide an excellent overview of each team's house and will help docents point out any special features of the homes.
- Carnegie Mellon University
(PDF 78 KB)
- Cornell University
(PDF 78 KB)
- Georgia Institute of Technology
(PDF 89 KB)
- Kansas Project Solar House (Kansas State University and University of Kansas)
(PDF 85 KB)
- Lawrence Technological University
(PDF 91 KB)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(PDF 78 KB)
- New York Institute of Technology
(PDF 107 KB)
- Penn State
(PDF 98 KB)
- Santa Clara University
(PDF 80 KB)
- Team Montréal
(École de Technologie Supérieure, Université de Montréal, McGill University)
(PDF 92 KB)
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
(PDF 80 KB)
- Texas A&M University
(PDF 115 KB)
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
(PDF 81 KB)
- Universidad de Puerto Rico
(PDF 83 KB)
- University of Colorado at Boulder
(PDF 79 KB)
- University of Cincinnati
(PDF 75 KB)
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
(PDF 91 KB)
- University of Maryland
(PDF 98 KB)
- University of Missouri-Rolla (
PDF 76 KB)
- University of Texas at Austin
(PDF 83 KB)
Volunteer Job Descriptions
Greeters
Description
Greeters welcome visitors to the Solar Decathlon and provide them with general information about the competition or direct visitors to the information they seek.
Greeters are positioned in two tents in the village and at 8 - 10 entry points to the village. Greeters may also be positioned within a large exhibit in the village. Greeters stationed outside (not in tents) will be given umbrellas with the letter "i" on them to help identify them as sources of "information."
General Tasks
- Provide orientation to the event and help direct visitors through the village
- Provide information about workshops, presentations, and special events
- Answer questions and hand out the Solar Decathlon Competition Program, which provides information about the Solar Decathlon, each team, and the sponsors
- Complete the tasks for morning or afternoon greeters, as applicable (see below).
Morning Shift Greeters
Greeters volunteering for the morning shift "open" the village and have the following responsibilities:
- Ensure that both tents and the greeters positioned out in the village are adequately stocked with programs
- Update white boards with information about that day's workshops and events
- Set up the computers for the "Public Internet Terminals"
- Set up, turn on, and ensure that the plasma screens and DVD players with the Solar Decathlon explainer loop are functioning properly
- Set up, turn on, and ensure that the electronic leader board is functioning properly.
Afternoon Shift Greeters
Greeters volunteering for the afternoon shift "close" the village and have the following responsibilities:
- Straighten up the tents and empty the trash
- Rebox any programs left from the day and protect them from moisture and theft
- Erase white boards
- Disassemble as necessary and securely store the appropriate components of the "Public Internet Terminals," plasma screens, DVD players, and electronic leader board
- Ensure that the tents are locked.
Physical requirements
Most greeters need to be able to get around the village and interact with visitors. Some greeters may request a position within a tent, where there is an option for stationary seating. Some lifting and working with electronics is required by greeters each day, but not all greeters have to have these capabilities.
Needs
40 - 50 greeters are needed each day for a period of about nine days (October 12 - October 20, 2007), six weekdays and three weekend days. On weekdays, greeters are needed from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On weekends, greeters are needed from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each day is divided into two "shifts" that overlap by about 40 minutes.
Docents
Description
As well as performing the functions of a greeter (see above), docents lead simple, 30-minute tours of the village by taking groups down the center street of the village and provide a one-to-two sentence overview of each house in the village (talking points will be supplied). Teams will provide all in-house tours.
These volunteers should be familiar with energy efficiency, solar energy technologies, and the 10 contests of the Solar Decathlon. They should be comfortable interacting with the public and able to answer general questions about energy efficiency and solar energy technologies.
Physical Requirements
Most docents need to be able to get around the village and interact with visitors. Some docents may request a position within a tent, where there is an option for stationary seating. Some lifting and working with electronics is required by docents each day, but not all docents have to have these capabilities.
Needs
Approximately 10 docents are needed each day for a period of about nine days (October 12 - October 20, 2007), six weekdays and three weekend days. On weekdays, docents are needed from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On weekends, docents are needed from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each day is divided into two "shifts" that overlap by about 40 minutes.
Registration Volunteers
Description
Registration volunteers will be stationed in the DOE cafeteria, October 2, 2007 then in the registration tent or trailer on the Mall starting October 3, 2007. Responsibilities include collecting and verifying completeness of forms, issuing and tracking badges as well as other registration paperwork. Responsibilities may also include taking photographs of participants for their badges, filing paperwork, and distributing team giveways from sponsors.
Physical Requirements
This volunteer position does not require mobility.
Needs
Up to five registration volunteers are needed October 2, 2007 from 3:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Up to three registration volunteers are needed for morning and afternoon shifts October 3 - October 20, 2007. On weekdays, registration volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On weekends, registration volunteers are needed from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each day is divided into two "shifts" that overlap by about 40 minutes.
Special Event Volunteers
Volunteers are needed at special events before, during, and following the competition. Special events include the Opening Reception and Media Open House, the Awards Ceremony, and the Victory Reception. The exact responsibilities of these volunteers is still being finalized.
Physical Requirements
Most special event volunteers need to be able to get around the village and interact with visitors. Some special event volunteers may request a position within a tent, where there is an option for stationary seating. Some lifting and working with electronics is required by special event volunteers each day, but not all special event volunteers have to have these capabilities.
Needs
For the Opening Reception and Media Open House on October 11, we need 10 volunteers to act as greeters and docents. For the Awards Ceremony on October 19, we need 30 volunteers to assist the teams in providing tours of their houses to the public while the Awards Ceremony is taking place. We want as many team members as possible to relax and enjoy the ceremonies. Volunteers will "fill in" for these teams members so the houses can remain open to the public. We need 10 volunteers at the Victory Reception on October 20, to meet and greet the teams and their families and to help them feel comfortable with the security measures in place at the U.S Department of Energy cafeteria.
Workshop Assistants
Description
Workshop assistants assist with visitor arrivals and seating, and preparing the workshop tent for the next workshop.
Physical Requirements
Workshop assistants must be able to get around the workshop tent and interact with visitors. Some moderate lifting may be required. Experience with audio/visual equipment is helpful.
Needs
Up to six workshop assistants are needed each day, October 13 - 20, 2007. No workshop assistants are needed October 19. Up to three workshop assistants are needed for morning shifts and for afternoon shifts. On weekdays, workshop assistants are needed 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. October 18, as part of Building Industry Day, workshop assistants are needed 8 am - 6 p.m. On weekends, workshop assistants are needed 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Each day is divided into two "shifts" that overlap by about 30 minutes.
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