Solar Decathlon

Thunder storms and muggy weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Solar Decathletes in Washington, DC last week. The teams representing 19 universities from around the world competed to build the most energy efficient, affordable and attractive solar-powered home – not easy given the conditions!Read more

Proudly sporting their university colors, 19 teams opened the front doors of their solar-powered homes to the public for the first time last week at the official launch of Solar Decathlon 2011 – a biannual competition managed by the U.S. Department of Energy.Read more

After two years of planning, many sleepless nights, and crash courses in construction, the university teams competing in this year’s Department of Energy Solar Decathlon are ready to build!

The Team Meeting to kick off the competition brought all the students together for the first time for final instructions, a good meal, and pep talks on Tuesday evening. I was pleased to represent Applied Materials, a sponsor of the Solar Decathlon, at the event to share our company’s pride in the teams’ accomplishments to date and our interest in learning more about their solar-inspired innovations during the decathlon which runs through the end of this month in Washington, DC.Read more

Applied Materials has a history of supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, an award-winning program that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

As a leader in scaling green manufacturing, Applied Materials is pleased to sponsor this year's solar decathlon competition in Washington, D.C. and as founding partner to the launch of the first Solar Decathlon in China in 2013.Read more

Solar energy and innovation are at the forefront of diplomacy as President Barack Obama hosts China’s President Hu Jintao in an official state visit January 18 – 22, 2011. As part of the visit, numerous agreements will be reached that can improve economic and environmental conditions in their respective countries and around the world. Applied Materials has played an important role in creating a Solar Decathlon competition program in China fashioned after the highly successful U.S. model.