Schneider Electric to Sponsor U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015

ANDOVER, Mass., Sept. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation, today announced its sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015. Schneider Electric has sponsored the Decathlon for more than eight years, as part of the company's continued commitment to promoting awareness of innovative, sustainable and energy-efficient technologies and practices.

The 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 need for sustainable, green energy solutions has never been greater and Schneider Electric is proud to take part in helping to educate the next generation of architects and engineers in energy-efficient building and design technologies that will build the cities, towns and world of tomorrow," said Laurent Vernerey, President and CEO of North American Operations, Schneider Electric. "The Solar Decathlon is more than an educational exercise, it is an experience that will change the way these students and the general public view and incorporate clean-energy practices and solutions into their daily lives."

Sponsors support the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon through in-kind contributions that are based on a list of needs determined by event organizers. Sponsors can also work with individual teams directly by providing in-kind donations, cash contributions, and other resources. Schneider Electric is supporting the program through the design of the Solar Village microgrid, staffing the event with employee volunteers, the donation of an EV charging station to a university team and providing design, on-site services, support and consulting throughout the competition. Schneider Electric is also spearheading the Energy Balance Contest using its Power Monitoring Expert technologies. As part of the contest, each team will be equipped with a bidirectional utility meter that enables the technology to measure the energy the house produces and consumes over the course of the competition. Participants are awarded and detracted points based on the amount of the house's energy production and consumption, with the goal to produce net zero energy consumption during the entire competition.

"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.  "The sponsorship provided by Schneider Electric helps ensure that the Solar Decathlon provides a rich learning experience for the student decathletes and educates the public about the money-saving opportunities and environmental benefits presented by clean-energy products and design solutions."

The next Solar Decathlon will take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, CA. Open to the public free of charge from October 8-18, 2015, the competition houses will be open to visitors on eight days over two weekends. 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.

For more information about the Solar Decathlon, visit www.solardecathlon.gov. More information about Schneider Electric can be found at www.schneider-electric.com.

About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is the global specialist in energy management and automation. With revenues of $30 billion in FY2014, our 170,000 employees serve customers in over 100 countries, helping them to manage their energy and process in ways that are safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable. From the simplest of switches to complex operational systems, our technology, software and services improve the way our customers manage and automate their operations. Our connected technologies will reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives. At Schneider Electric, we call this Life Is On.

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