Yesterday’s Solar Decathlon China opening ceremony was grand!

A huge stage, complete with three video screens, was set up on the steps of the Sun Palace. The mayor of Datong opened Friday’s opening ceremony by speaking about the future—a cleaner, brighter future, thanks to the efforts of students and faculty participating in Solar Decathlon China. Other dignitaries, including Assistant Secretary David Danielson of the U.S. Department of Energy, also spoke. Dr. Danielson said how pleased he was to be in Datong witnessing the first Solar Decathlon in China. He congratulated everyone for making the competition possible.

Mark your calendar! The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 will take place Oct. 3–13, 2013, at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

The next generation of solar innovators continued to arrive by the busload to the solar village in West Potomac Park today. Between Monday, Sept. 26, and Tuesday, Sept. 27, more than 66 buses brought local eighth-grade students to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon welcomed building industry professionals today with a series of workshops held in the Main Tent. Topics included “A Look at Industry Trends in Building Designs,” “Building the Solar Heating and Cooling Industry,” and “The Key to Sustaining Energy-Efficient Behaviors.”

Richard King features speakers from today’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 Opening Ceremony.

Today’s Opening Ceremony for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 brought the solar village to life. More than 600 students and invited guests attended the event, which featured dignitaries, sponsors, and Solar Decathlon Director Richard King.

Arun Majumdar, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), gave a rousing speech to start the program.

“In the future, you leaders will be sitting across the table to figure out how to make this world a better place for your children and your grandchildren,” said Dr. Majumdar. “Let the Solar Decathlon be the start of that personal relationship.”

Senator Robert Menendez was another crowd favorite. After Solar Decathlon 2009, Sen. Menendez put out a challenge to all universities in his home state. Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology answered his call to action and formed Team New Jersey.

Sen. Menendez recognized the many student experts—from architects and engineers to carpenters and pizza wranglers— that come together to create a Solar Decathlon house.

“You’re leading us to a brighter, cleaner, greener, smarter future,” he said.

Other speakers—including Beatriz Corredor from Solar Decathlon Europe, Liang Zhi-peng from Solar Decathlon China, and the generous sustaining sponsors—provided additional congratulations and inspiration to the decathletes. Elisabeth Neigert from the SCI-Arc/Caltech team represented the decathletes in the ceremony’s final speech.

The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting that officially opened the solar village to VIPs.

“We’re off and running,” said Richard King. As Elisabeth Neigert said, may the best team win!

Alexis Powers is a member of the Solar Decathlon communications team.

Media representatives enjoyed a sneak peek of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 solar village today, one day before the event’s official opening ceremony.

Solar Decathlon Director Richard King led more than 70 journalists from about 40 media outlets through the village, stopping in front of each house, where a student spokesperson gave a brief introduction to his or her team and house.

“The media really turned out to see the village today, which helps the students spread their stories,” Richard said. “We’ve never done a media preview quite like this before, and it was a huge success.”

Among the media present today were The Washington Post, Bloomberg, USA Today, The Huffington Post, Buildapedia, WJLA News Channel 8, WUSA Channel 9, and PBS’ “Nightly Business Report.”

Carol Anna is the communications manager of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

Samuel Mikhail, team leader of Team New York (City College of New York), celebrates the diversity of his team during the All-Team Meeting. (Credit: Carol Anna/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon)

Filled with energy and excitement, the student teams gathered the All-Team Meeting tonight to kick off the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The teams—representing 13 U.S. states, five countries, and four continents—received an enthusiastic send-off from Solar Decathlon organizers and sponsors in preparation for the assembly phase of the competition, which begins later tonight.

Over a buffet dinner, Melissa Segil of Middlebury College explained how the Solar Decathlon has had a powerful impact on her education.

From left: Joel Towers, executive dean, Parsons; Dorothy Douglas, Deanwood resident; Sheila C. Johnson, board chair, Parsons; Sylvia Brown, ANC commissioner; Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins; Kent Adcock, president and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.; Michael Bruno, dean, Stevens Institute of Technology; Neil Grabois, dean, The Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School (Courtesy of Lisa Bleich)

Saving energy to save money—it’s a simple yet effective strategy that can greatly benefit families faced with the variable, often high costs of utility bills. It’s a goal made all the more significant to the Parsons The New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology Solar Decathlon team because the houses they design and build will serve as future residences for two families in the historic Deanwood community of Washington, D.C.

On April 28, 2011, the launch ceremony for Solar Decathlon China (SD China) was held at Peking University. The event was witnessed by more than 200 participants from China's National Energy Administration (NEA), the U.S. Department of Energy, prominent domestic and international energy companies, and several Chinese universities. The Solar Decathlon China competition will be hosted by the National Energy Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy, organized by Peking University, and supported by companies including Applied Materials of the U.S.