Bosch Supports U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 as 19 College Teams Design, Build, Operate Solar Homes

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bosch is donating a variety of energy-efficient and sustainable products - totaling $115,000 - to 12 college teams participating in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, to be held Sept. 23 through Oct. 2, in Washington, D.C. The competition is comprised of 19 teams that design, build and operate solar-powered homes that are cost effective, energy-efficient and attractive.

Donations from Bosch Home Appliances, Power Tools, Solar Energy and Thermotechnology are being given to the teams to help them showcase their best ideas. The Solar Decathlon, which is free and open to the public, will take place on the National Mall's West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.  

"As a leading technology and services company, Bosch is excited to support 12 teams and be a sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 as we collectively strive to advance efficient, renewable energy products for home use," said Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO, Robert Bosch LLC and member of the Bosch Board of Management. "The Solar Decathlon not only challenges the students to innovate, it also reaches out to the public, inviting them to tour the prototype homes, and encourages all of us to consider how energy-saving technologies can be applied in our own lives."  

"Bosch has a long history dedicated to sustainability and we remain focused on providing safe, clean and efficient products that help protect the environment, conserve resources, and reduce emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels."

An international, award-winning program, the Solar Decathlon will honor the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

Participating teams and sponsors educate the public on cost-saving opportunities by using clean-energy products and ensure that homes combining energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems are available today.

From the Bosch Power Tools used to construct a house frame, to the ENERGY STAR®-rated Bosch Home Appliances, to the sustainable technologies, such as the Bosch Compress 3000 Heat Pump Electric Residential Water Heater, these products will help provide years of comfort to the home's occupants. Bosch products deliver energy conservation solutions for nearly every facet of residential living. The following teams are partnering with Bosch to use select products in the design or build of their model home:

• Team Florida (Flex House)
  The University of South Florida, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida
• Florida International University (Perform[D]ance)
  Florida International University
• Illinois (Re_home)
  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Maryland (Watershed)
  University of Maryland
• Team Massachusetts (4 D Home)
  Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell
• Middlebury College (Self Reliance)
  Middlebury College
• New Zealand (Meridian First Light House)
  Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
• Ohio State (enCore)
  The Ohio State University
• Parsons NS Stevens (Empowerhouse)
  Parsons the New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology
• SCI-Arc/Caltech (CHIP)
  The Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology
• Tennessee (Living Light)
  University of Tennessee
• Tidewater Virginia (Unit Six Unplugged)
  Old Dominion University and Hampton University

Using Bosch solar, thermotechnology and high-quality household appliances, the team-built homes can produce more energy than consumed, offering resourceful and affordable living.  

As a leading provider of photovoltaic products, Bosch designs state-of-the-art solar modules that reduce production costs while delivering optimal performance. Transforming solar energy into electricity, Bosch's photovoltaic products, such as monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar cells, meet the needs of both residential and commercial customers, reducing the use of fossil fuels and helping stem climate change.

Bosch Thermotechnology provides the latest generation of high-quality products that reduce emissions, including heat pump water heaters and tankless water heaters.

In addition, Bosch provides innovative solutions for today's modern home with its sustainable home appliances, and is the only U.S. manufacturer with entire product lines of ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwashers, washers and refrigerators.  Products such as Bosch's Induction Cooktop with SteelTouch™ Control and AutoChef® 800 Series heats food more than 50 percent faster than conventional cooktops and reduces energy consumption by up to 60 percent as compared to gas cooktops.  

Bosch power tools and accessories, such as the 18V Lithium-ion Impact Drill/Driver and Dual Bevel Glide Miter Saw, operate with strength and speed, as well as increase user efficiency and precision, helping teams improve their building experience by decreasing project time and increasing versatility.  Bosch's lithium-ion batteries are capable of delivering four times longer life as compared to similar technologies on the market.

"The Solar Decathlon depends on the valuable support of our many sponsors," said Richard King, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. "Our sponsors play an integral role in ensuring that the competition provides a rich learning experience for the student decathletes, while we effectively educate the public about the economical opportunities and environmental benefits presented by clean energy products and design solutions."

About Bosch

In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy, healthcare telemedicine and software innovations. Having established a regional presence in 1906, Bosch employs over 22,000 associates in more than 100 locations, with reported sales of $8.8 billion in fiscal 2010.  For more information, visit www.boschusa.com.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 285,000 associates generated sales of 47.3 billion euros ($62.7 billion) in fiscal 2010. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in over 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent 3.8 billion euros (approximately $5 billion) for research and development in 2010, and applied for over 3,800 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.  Bosch is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2011.  Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, and www.125.bosch.com.

About the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002; the competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007, and 2009. The next event will take place at the National Mall's West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials. Open to the public free of charge from September 23 through October 2, 2011, the Solar Decathlon enables visitors to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today. The public can learn more at www.solardecathlon.gov.

SOURCE Bosch