Solar Decathlon 2013 Energizes Southern California Audiences

摘要

One thing you notice when walking around the Solar Decathlon competition village is the energy - and it's not just coming off the solar energy systems. There is a buzz in the air. Everyone is talking. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon naturally stimulates discussion. Some people come to judge for themselves. Some come to learn what's new. The more they see, the more there is to get excited about. That's the kind of energy we like to generate! Moving the location of the Solar Decathlon, which had been held five times since 2002 in Washington, D.C., begged the question, "If we build it in California, will they come?" We are pleased to report they did. About 64,000 Southern California residents visited Solar Decathlon 2013, according to our event hosts, the Orange County Great Park and City of Irvine. Based on that number and our counting system as people entered the houses, we estimate that the student teams conducted more than 300,000 house tours during the eight-day public exhibit.