| 2007 Solar Decathlon Presents Opportunity to Showcase New SSL Products
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| The Solar Decathlon draws roughly 100,000 visitors to the National Mall every two years to view innovative, energy-efficient building designs and technologies. Photo credit: Stefano Paltera, Solar Decathlon |
In January 2006, DOE announced that 20 teams were selected to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is an international competition that brings student teams from universities across the United States, Europe, and Canada to compete in designing, building, and operating highly energy-efficient, completely solar-powered houses. In October 2007, the selected teams will assemble their homes on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where the homes will be judged in ten different categories, including lighting design. During that time, the homes will also be open to the public.
The lighting designs for the 2005 Solar Decathlon homes featured unique and interesting applications of today’s SSL products. Washington State University partnered with Albeo Technologies to feature LED arrays in undercounter lighting. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University partnered with Color Kinetics to use light as a design feature, illuminating entire walls with dimmable LED systems. Additional SSL applications included task lighting, roof lighting, and an illuminated address sign.
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At the 2005 Solar Decathlon, Virginia Tech partnered with Alliance member Color Kinetics to develop an innovative lighting system, using LEDs to illuminate the translucent polycarbonate walls of their home. Photo credit: Stefano Paltera, Solar Decathlon
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As SSL technology matures and new products and applications emerge, the Solar Decathlon provides an opportunity to promote demonstrations of new SSL products, and increase awareness of the performance and energy-saving benefits of SSL. DOE’s SSL Partnership with the Next Generation Lighting Industry Alliance – designed to enhance the commercialization focus of DOE’s SSL program and accelerate implementation of SSL technology – is focused on the same objectives.
The Alliance works with DOE on a wide range of activities. In the R&D arena, the Alliance identifies SSL technology needs from an industry perspective, and assists DOE in updating SSL technology roadmaps. The Alliance also supports implementation of DOE’s commercialization support plan, which includes outreach activities, demonstrations, and events like the Solar Decathlon. For more information on the Alliance, including a list of members, visit the Alliance website.
For more information on the Solar Decathlon and a list of the 20 teams selected for 2007, see the DOE press release and the Solar Decathlon website. |
