This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Austrian students win Solar Decathlon in OC
Team Austria's house won first place in the Solar Decathlon at Great Park in Irvine
(
Brian Watt/KPCC
)
The solar powered home designed by USC students placed tenth in the Solar Decathlon
(
Brian Watt/KPCC
)
Listen
1:10
Austrian students win Solar Decathlon in OC
A group of college students from Austria took first place Saturday in a solar design competition sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy in Orange County's Great Park.
Officials called it the closest competition since the biannual competition known as the Solar Decathlon began in 2002. This year's event was the first held outside Washington D.C.
The solar-powered home designed and built by students from the Vienna University of Technology beat out the second-place team from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Czech Technical University of the Czech Republic placed third. A team from USC finished 10th.
"We started out with a simple, elegant Austrian vacation home, and have somehow ended up with a James-Bond-themed love chalet," mechanical engineering student Philipp Klebert said on behalf of the victorious Austrian team. "So I think overall, this competition was a success. "
For the past two years, 19 teams from the U.S. and abroad have designed and built fully functional solar-powered houses. They reconstructed the homes at Great Park, and the prototypes have been on display for the past two weeks.
The ten categories of the decathlon included architecture, market appeal, engineering and affordability. Entries were also judged on energy balance, appliances, and hot water systems. Click here for a list of the winners in each category.
Along with USC, other California entrants were teams from Stanford, Santa Clara University, and a combination of students from the Southern California Institute of Architecture and CalTech. Stanford placed fifth.
Sponsored message
The public is invited to tour the prototype homes until 7 p.m. Saturday and between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
