In 2002 and 2005, the U.S. Department of Energy hosted a design-build “solar village” on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Participation grew from 14competitors in 2002 to 18 teams in 2005 that designed and built small houses to compete in10 individual events, addressing key metrics of sustainability and renewable energy. Another round will take place in fall 2007, and the AIA isa proud sponsor. As this competition gains momentum through enriched educational research, increased professional support, and significant publicity, it is important to study examples of successful processes and collaborations, identify successful models of design-build dialogues between academic institutions and local professionals, and encourage further development of these sustainable models through continued education and establishment of identified paths of the professional community.

   Learning objectives:

• Summarize and reconstruct parameters that establish successful relationships between academic institutions pursuing the Solar Decathlon efforts and the local professional community
• Analyze methods of communication between academic institutions and local professionals, identify potential feedback loops, and implement outreach efforts to strengthen local support
• Identify and replicate the vehicles for continued education which two teams used after the Solar Decathlon with local community entities to perpetuate a knowledge base of sustainable principles