Philipp Klebert, center, celebrates after learning Vienna University of Technology placed first in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. | Photo by Stefano Paltera, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Iani Batilov (left to right), Kalewalani Banaco, Heather Holmstrom, Jinger Zeng and Christian Iusso from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas celebrate after learning their team placed second at Solar Decathlon. | Photo by Stefano Paltera, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Exterior of the house built by students from Vienna Institute of Technology. | Photo by Jason Flakes, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Interior of the house built by students from Vienna Institute of Technology. | Photo by Jason Flakes, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Exterior of the house built by students from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. | Photo by Jason Flakes, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Interior of the house built by students from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. | Photo by Jason Flakes, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The house designed by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte won the Solar Decathlon People's Choice Award. | Photo by Jason Flakes, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

This year’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon was a tremendous success. Nineteen collegiate teams from throughout the United States and the world showcased their solar-powered, highly energy-efficient houses to the public at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. For the first time in the competition’s history, all of the student-built houses produced more energy than they consumed.

Thousands attended the event and witnessed innovative house designs that combine affordability and consumer appeal. Team Austria, made up of students from Vienna University of Technology, took home top honors; University of Nevada Las Vegas  came in second; and Czech Republic, including students from Czech Technical University, took third. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte won the People’s Choice Award. None of these achievements could have been possible without the outstanding, creative work of the students involved and those who supportefd them along the way.

As we close another impressive chapter in Solar Decathlon history, we look forward to the next event in 2015.  Colleges, universities, and other post-secondary educational institutions are welcome to submit application proposals to the Energy Department. Up to 20 teams will be selected based on quantity and quality of proposals. Learn more about Solar Decathlon 2015.

Check out all of Energy.gov’s coverage of Solar Decathlon featuring videos, photos, and maps of the competition and learn more on SolarDecathlon.gov. To view the results of Solar Decathlon 2013, which concluded on Sunday, October 13, visit the SolarDecathlon.gov’s scores and standings page and online press room.  Follow the Solar Decathlon on Facebook,Twitter and Flickr to connect online.