University of Massachusetts Dartmouth:
Solar Decathlon
A delightful mix of architecture, engineering and community service

Scoring

General Scoring Concepts

• Points are awarded for achievement.
• Points are awarded cumulatively.
• Penalties are assessed for cheating, serious negligence, or misbehavior.
• Part of the scoring is derived from performance measurement, part from task completion and part from subjective evaluation by judges.

Causes for Change In Scores

• Judges are sensitive to things beyond our control, influences in design, and items that influence operation.
• We may have direct influence on our score.

The Ten Contests and Points Availaible

• Architecture 200
• Curb Appeal 100
• Project Development 100
• Communications 100
• Comfort Zone 100
• Appliances 100
• Hot Water 100
• Lighting 100
• Energy Balance 100
• Getting Around 100
  Total 1100

CONTEST SUMMARIES

Architecture

This is the most important contest. Our home will be judged by an architectural jury using the three following topics as primary criteria:

• Firmness
• Commodity
• Delight

Each will be awarded an undetermined number of points, the goal being a maximum combined score of 200.

Curb Appeal

This is the newest of all contests. Our home will be judged by a real estate jury (75% of points); in addition, the public will vote for their favorite home (25% of points).

Project Development

This contest features updated energy analysis requirements. Homes will be judged on the following topics:

• Construction documents (40 points)
• Building energy analysis (40 points)
• Cost report (10 points)
• Required document submittals (10 points)

Communications

This contest is important because public relations are critical to the success of the Solar Decathlon. This section will focus on the marketing of our project to other departments in our school as well as the public. The Communications category is comprised of the following:

• Web Site (50 points)
• Contest Diaries (20 points)
• House Tours (20 points)
• Branding (10 points)

Comfort Zone

Comfort zone takes into account the following categories:

• Temperature Control (40 points)
• Relative Humidity Control (20 points)
• Comprehensive Thermal Comfort Assessment (20 points)
• Comprehensive IAQ Assessment (20 points)

There are also 60 points awarded for maintaining "inside dry bulb temperature and relative humidity" (72-76F with 40.0%-50.0% humidity). (Tour hours are not taken into account for the scoring of this category.)

Appliances

Appliances must work at normal capacity to earn points. Points will be earned as follows:

• Refrigerator Temperature Control (20 points)
• Freezer Temperature Control (20 points)
• Clothes Washing Tasks (15 points)
• Clothes Drying Tasks (15 points)
• Dishwashing Tasks (10 points)
• Cooking Tasks (10 points)
• TV/Video Operation (5 points)
• Computer Operation (5 points)

Hot Water

This contest is divided into two categories: Shower Test and Innovation. The "Shower Test" tests our house's ability to supply 15 gallons of water for ten minutes at 110 degrees, 2 times a day.

Lighting

Points will be awarded based on the following four criteria:

• Spot Measurements (20 points)
• Continuous Measurements (20 points)
• Daylighting Design (30 points)
• Electric Lighting Design (30 points)

Energy Balance

The goal is to make the home completely sustainable, meaning it requires zero energy from an external source such as the electric grid. Full points will be awarded for energy storage. Partial Points will be awarded for partial sustainability.

Getting Around

This contest is awarded points according to the mileage accumulated by the electric car. Points are awarded on a daily basis, as follows:

• Day 1 (20 points)
• Day 2 (20 points)
• Day 3 (20 points)
• Day 4 (20 points)
• Day 5 (15 points)
• Final Lap (5 points)

There is an alternative to this part of the competition involving selling off of excess stored energy.

In each category, the team awarded the most points wins.

Last updated: Friday, June 10, 2005 8:33 PM

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The Solar Decathlon is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and private-sector sponsors BP, the the DIY Network, the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, and Sprint.

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