Denver, Colorado, Oct. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 13, 2017

On Saturday, October 14, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel Simmons will join collegiate competitors and event sponsors at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2017 final awards presentation that will reveal this year’s winners. The event will take place at the 61st and Peña Station, where teams involving hundreds of students from across the nation and Europe have been testing the performance of their highly energy-efficient solar-powered houses since October 5th. See competition photos here and view current overall standings.

WHO:              

Daniel Simmons, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Dr. Robert K. Dixon, Director of the Office of Strategic Programs

DOE Linda Silverman, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

DOE Collegiate teams from across the country and from Europe

Andrew Bennett, Senior Vice President, Schneider Electric

Andre Gouin, Business Technology Consultant, Xcel Energy

Solar Decathlon 2017 Supporting sponsors Wells Fargo, the City and County of Denver, and Denver

International Airport (DEN), and Contributing sponsors L.C. Fulenwider

Schneider Electric, Regional Transportation District,

Xcel Energy and Panasonic Enterprise Solutions

WHAT:            

The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate highly energy-efficient, innovation packed solar houses that are attractive and easy to live in. Saturday’s announcement will cap off the nine-day competition that shows consumers how to save money and energy with affordable energy products that are available today.

WHEN:            

Saturday, October 14, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

WHERE:               

61st and Peña Station, Denver, CO – view directions to the site; there will be a designated lot, along with some off-street parking, for media; please contact us at 202-28-SOLAR (76527), or email us here to make arrangements if you have equipment needs.

RSVP:                   

Media wishing to attend are encouraged to RSVP by contacting Eric Escudero, media relations contact at the U.S. Department of Energy, at [email protected] or (720) 234-3417. Also, visit our media resources page and download our online media kit to help you cover the event.   

Cast a vote for your favorite Solar Decathlon house to win the People’s Choice Award. Anyone with a Facebook profile can submit a single vote in the poll through October 14 at midnight. The People’s Choice Award winner will be broadcast live on Solar Decathlon’s Facebook page on October 15, 2017, at roughly 10:45 a.m. MDT from the Victory Breakfast.  

The Solar Decathlon houses are open to the public for free tours for one final weekend today through Sunday, October 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Ride the University of Colorado A line commuter rail to the event site at the 61st and Peña Station (search Google Maps for Solar Decathlon) near Denver International Airport. Free parking will be available, as well as $2.00 parking in the solar-covered parking lot operated by RTD (see directions and a map). For full event information, current standings, high-resolution photos, and videos, visit www.SolarDecathlon.gov. You may also follow the competition in real time on Facebook at Facebook.com/DOESolarDecathlon and Twitter at @Solar_Decathlon. Photos are also available on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solar_decathlon/.

More about the Solar Decathlon

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition made up of 10 contests that challenge student teams to design and build full-size, solar-powered houses. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends design excellence and smart energy production with innovation, market potential, and energy and water efficiency. Competing students gain hands-on experience and unique training that prepares them to enter the energy workforce. Solar Decathlon is more than a student competition. It’s an intensive learning experience for consumers and homeowners as they experience the latest technologies and materials in energy-efficient design, innovative energy technologies, smart home solutions, water conservation measures, electric vehicles, and sustainable buildings.

Solar Decathlon 2017 is made possible by a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Energetics Incorporated, with the generous support of the Solar Decathlon 2017 Supporting sponsors Wells Fargo, the City and County of Denver, and Denver International Airport (DEN), and Solar Decathlon 2017 Contributing sponsors L.C. Fulenwider, Schneider Electric, Regional Transportation District, Xcel Energy and Panasonic Enterprise Solutions.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e9b5d28f-af8d-4f08-ae4f-b596addcb28c

CONTACT: EERE Communications
U.S. Department of Energy - Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
720-234-3417
[email protected]