Too Expensive: The Solar Decathlon

Competing in the Solar Decathlon is now so expensive that Yale University can't afford it. Yale has withdrawn from the 2015 competition, just weeks away, citing problems with fundraising. The total budget for a Solar Decathlon house often exceeds $2 million.* I included a discussion of Decathlon, and the cost issues, in The Solar House.

Of course Yale can afford it; the school's endowment is $23.9 billion (link). Apparently the decision-makers at Yale don't think the Solar Decathlon is a worthy use of that money. I can imagine those conversations, and I can imagine that it's a reasonable decision. In any case, this is certainly a black eye for the Decathlon.

Design for the Yale Solar House (2015) which will apparently remain unbuilt. Public domain.

The 2015 Solar Decathlon occurs October 8-18 at the Orange County Great Park, in Irvine, California. 16 other teams will compete.

As of now, the Yale team's website is still active.

*Counterpoint: Norwich University built "The Most Affordable Solar Decathlon House. Ever." (pdf)

See also:
#SD2015
The Solar Decathlon: Back to Irvine
The “Shading Decathlon”?