The Penn State Solar Decathlon Team is an interdisciplinary group of students made up of multiple academic backgrounds ranging from the College of Arts & Architecture, College of Engineering, Eberly College of Science, and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Throughout the year, we utilize the integrative design process to create a cohesive and impactful concept, and then split up into five sub-teams, Architecture, MEP, Construction Management, Energy, and Building Envelope in order to execute those design goals. Our team members learn about and practice comprehensive building science practices through software such as Revit, BEopt, REM/ Rate,  SketchUp, WUFI, etc. While we are working towards competition in the U.S. Solar Decathlon Competition, the team's primary focus throughout the year is training and educating the next generation of sustainable engineers and designers.

​

 

 

 

 

During the Fall semester, the team prepares for the competition through weekly meetings, where we focus on learning about building science and sustainable design. In addition, a three-credit design class, ARCH412, is offered as an opportunity to further explore design possibilities for the competition in Fall. In the Spring semester, a one-credit class, CE411, is offered to build upon the team's previous work, where the team breaks out into five sub-teams in order to work on their design for the competition in greater detail. Throughout the entire year, the team leaders host Saturday work sessions where they offer presentations on different building science software and aspects of sustainability.

​

The team's final design is presented to a panel of industry leaders and experts at he National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Denver, Colorado.