DOE drops solar focus in revamp of student building competition
The U.S. Department of Energy has rebranded its long-running Solar Decathlon as a broader building design event without a competition or emphasis on renewable energy.
Christa Marshall reports for E&E News.
In short:
- The Solar Decathlon is now called the “BuildingsNEXT Student Design competition,” focusing on general building innovation instead of solar or low-carbon design.
- This year’s event will not declare winners, shifting instead to a showcase format with honorable mentions only.
- Critics say the new name omits core themes like “renewables” and “resilience,” and some suspect the rebrand is tied to politics.
Key quote:
“This is how they figured they could resurrect it and keep it going instead of having it completely axed.”
— Dorothy Gerring, associate professor of architecture, Pennsylvania College of Technology, speaking as a private citizen
Why this matters:
Once a marquee event spotlighting the future of clean energy, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon has quietly undergone a transformation that’s raising eyebrows in environmental and educational circles. This move comes just as rooftop solar and home battery systems are being adopted at record rates across the country. Critics argue that sidelining the program’s clean energy roots sends a message: that the federal government is stepping back from publicly championing climate-ready infrastructure. Without a strong federal platform to train future engineers, architects, and tradespeople in sustainable construction, the pace of the U.S. transition to low-carbon buildings could slow.
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