Information for Media
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 takes place in October on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- Oct. 8-16—Teams compete in 10 contests
- Oct. 9-13 and 15-18—Houses are open to the public
- Oct. 19-21—Teams disassemble their houses
The Solar Decathlon houses are open for public tours 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that all houses are closed Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The Solar Decathlon is a competition in which teams of college and university students compete to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar powered house. The 2009 Solar Decathlon is the fourth competition; the inaugural event was held in 2002, the second in 2005, and the third in 2007.
The Solar Decathlon is an educational project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is organized by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and supported by event and team sponsors from the private sector.
Media Kit
A complete media kit that includes details about the competition, energy facts and figures, questions and answers, and contact information is available in the media section of the full Solar Decathlon Web site.
Photographs
An assortment of high- and low-resolution photos from the current and past Solar Decathlon competitions can be accessed on the photographs page. Solar Decathlon 2009 daily photos will be updated at the end of each day during the competition.
Contacts
The contact information provided below is for media only. If you are not a member of the media but would like additional information, please see the Solar Decathlon contacts page. If you are a member of the media and have questions about the Solar Decathlon, please contact:
John Horst
U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office
1617 Cole Boulevard
Golden, Colorado 80401
Phone: 303-275-4709
E-mail: john.horst@go.doe.gov
Tom Welch
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585
Phone: 202-586-4316
Email: thomas.welch@hq.doe.gov
For a complete list of the 2009 teams and the team faculty contacts, visit:
For general information about the 2009 Solar Decathlon, visit the following pages:
If you are looking for more detailed information, visit:
If you would like information about the 2002, 2005, or the 2007 Solar Decathlon competitions, visit: