DESTINATION – Orange County, CA – U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013
From October 6-9, 2013, Brian M. Baker, Co-Owner and Director of Marketing & Design of studio26 homes and Renu Building & Energy Solutions, has been fortunate to be working as one of twelve jurors from around the country helping to judge the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 hosted in Orange County, CA. “The entire experience was absolutely amazing and quite rewarding,” shared Baker upon his return back to Pennsylvania. “I’m very thankful to have been chosen for this opportunity, and appreciate all of its many facets – everything from working collectively with the entire jury of talented professionals and the well-organized colleagues at NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) to touring all the cutting-edge homes as well as meeting the students who conceived them.”
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 consisted of 10 contests in the following categories:
- Architecture Contest (juried)
- Market Appeal Contest (juried)
- Engineering Contest (juried)
- Communications Contest (juried)
- Affordability Contest (juried)
- Comfort Zone Contest (measured)
- Hot Water Contest (measured)
- Appliances Contest (measured)
- Home Entertainment Contest (measured and juried)
- Energy Balance Contest (measured)
Brian Baker’s specific role in the Solar Decathlon 2013 was performing duties as one of three jurors in the Market Appeal Jury. Joining Baker were two other accomplished professionals from the building industry. Steve Glenn is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LivingHomes LLC (located in Santa Monica, CA), a developer of modern, prefabricated homes that combine world-class architecture with healthy and sustainable construction. Susan Aiello, a certified interior designer, is the Founder and President of Interior Design Solutions (located in New York City, NY) and also authors a blog entitled Green Interior Design Solutions. 
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 consisted of 20 teams from North America and Europe:
- Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico
- Czech Republic: Czech Technical University
- Kentucky/Indiana: University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky
- Middlebury College
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Norwich University
- Santa Clara University
- Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Team Alberta: University of Calgary
- Team Austria: Vienna University of Technology
- Team Capitol DC: The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and American University
- Team Ontario: Queen’s University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College
- Team Texas: The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College
- Tidewater Virginia: Hampton University and Old Dominion University
- University of Nevada Las Vegas
- The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of Southern California
- West Virginia University
After several weeks of studying plans, specifications, renderings, photos, narratives, and videos off-site, and three intensive days of home tours and deliberation on-site, the official rankings for the Market Appeal Contest were finally determined. The top three place finishers were:
- University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Team Austria: Vienna University of Technology
- Czech Republic: Czech Technical University
Upon the completion of all ten contests, the results of each were compiled and tallied to determine the overall champion of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. And the winner was…
- Team Austria: Vienna University of Technology
- University of Nevada Las Vegas
- Czech Republic: Czech Technical University
During the public presentation of the Market Appeal awards, Brian Baker conveyed the jury’s collective thoughts about the first place team describing the home as one that exuded the design and craftsmanship of “an expertly-crafted fine yacht”. Congratulations Team Austria! 
