For the first time, in an effort to expand the excitement generated by the competition and encourage participation from new communities, the DOE is inviting venues across the nation to compete for the opportunity to host this award-winning event.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the U.S. Department of Energy is considering offers for a new site for Solar Decathlon 2013. The DOE’s Solar Decathlon is a competition that challenges collegiate students from across the globe to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive and easy to live in.

For the first time, in an effort to expand the excitement generated by the competition and encourage participation from new communities, the department is inviting venues across the nation to compete for the opportunity to host this award-winning event. The Solar Decathlon has attracted thousands of people to experience first-hand the benefits of homes that incorporate clean energy technologies.

The Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., since 2002. The competition and public demonstration has been very successful in showcasing energy-efficient housing and clean-energy technologies in the metropolitan Washington area. For more detailed information on the new venue solicitation, visit https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect and search for reference number DE-SOL-0003159.

Solar Decathlon 2011 will take place at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park Sept. 23-Oct. 2. This year’s competition will be the department’s fifth Solar Decathlon; previous events were held in 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2009. Open to the public free of charge, the Solar Decathlon enables visitors to tour the houses and learn about money-saving clean-energy solutions for their own homes.

For more information, visit www.solardecathlon.org.