With its first edition held in 2002 organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon is a university competition focused on training the next generation of architects and engineers with the aim of spreading the concept of efficient houses powered by the sun, fostering a more sustainable and efficient world. To date, 18 competitions have been held around the world with approximately 291 teams, involving thousands of students, professors, organizers, visitors, etc. With almost two decades of history, there is no information on the performance of competitions in the eyes of those who have gone through this experience. This study, developed in the Annex 74 “Competition and Living Lab Platform” of the International Energy Agency’s Energy in Building and Communities Technology Collaboration Program, seeks to provide insight into the experience of former decathletes, faculties, organizers, and professionals who have attended some of the competitions held so far. To reach this objective, a worldwide survey was conducted in 2020 and an analysis of the responses was carried out. With this information, it is possible to assess the performance of Solar Decathlon competitions and associated events in order to improve them.

The Solar Decathlon competition has been part of the lives of a generation of architects and engineers by spreading the concept of efficient solar-powered houses, promoting a more sustainable and efficient world. More than twenty years after its first edition, the opinions of participating students and academics on the educational impact of the competition on their lives and whether it has fulfilled its objectives are unknown. To find these answers, a worldwide survey of participants in the editions held up to 2020 has been carried out and the results obtained through this methodology have made it possible to analyse these questions, pointing out the positive and negative points in order to suggest improvements for future events. La competición Solar Decathlon ha formado parte de la vida de una generación de arquitectos e ingenieros al difundir el concepto de casas eficientes alimentadas por energía solar, fomentando un mundo más sostenible y eficiente. Tras más de veinte años desde su primera edición, se desconoce la opinión de los estudiantes y académicos participantes sobre el impacto educacional de la competición en sus vidas y si ha cumplido sus objetivos. Para encontrar estas respuestas, se ha realizado una encuesta a nivel mundial a los participantes en las ediciones celebradas hasta el año de 2020 y los resultados obtenidos a través de esta metodología han permitido analizar estas cuestiones, señalando los puntos positivos y negativos con el fin de sugerir mejoras para futuros eventos.