Team China (Tongji University) participated in the 2011 US Solar Decathlon. Their design utilized six recycled shipping containers.

Asia’s first Solar Decathlon is just around the corner. Solar-powered houses built by 22 teams from 35 universities on six continents will be competing for the coveted first place at the China Solar Decathlon in Datong, China, during the first two weeks of August. If you’re in China, there will be public visiting hours. Use the web site for the schedule.

Beginning July 15, the teams have two weeks to set up their solar-powered houses in a solar village – ready for competition. The students represent nationalities in 13 countries, including Israel, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, England, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Malaysia, China, Singapore, and the US.  The competition in China is under an agreement between the Republic of China and the US Department of Energy. Check out the teams

Green News Update will provide online coverage during the Decathlon and wrap-up coverage with a photo essay. Come back to see the results!

In just a decade, the Solar Decathlon has become a virtually worldwide competition that draws student teams from Australia, Asia, South America, Europe, Canada and the US to build solar-powered prototype houses that can take up to two years to plan and build, then compete for top honors in individual contests that measure energy use, efficiency and overall performance.  Most of the houses go far beyond the energy requirements to be environmentally friendly – using natural light, sun-friendly siting, recycled materials, plantings, and  high-efficiency appliances.

Top prize in 2012: Canopea (Rhone Alpes Team), one of only two two-story entries in the 2012 European Solar Decathlon

The Solar Decathlon started in 2002 as a US competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy and held on the National Mall in Washington DC.  It has grown into three separate biennial competitions for college and university teams from every continent.  A team may include several universities that band together and tap special skills needed in architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape, marketing and more.

WaterShed — the University of Maryland entry — captured the top prize in the 2011 US Solar Decathlon in Washington DC.

Also on deck: The 2013 US Solar Decathlon takes places Oct 3-13 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California, with 20 teams,  including schools from  the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada and US.   Check it out

Green News Update covered the 2012 European Solar Decathlon in Spain with a wrapup story and photo gallery. Read the story. View the gallery