Bosch Home Appliances to Support Four Leading Collegiate Teams in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 2, 2013) - Bosch home appliances, the leader in energy and water efficient appliances, is proud to support four teams in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. Teams include the University of Southern California (USC), Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Santa Clara University.

The Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges 19 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.

"Bosch is known for its commitment to sustainable and purposeful design. We are proud to support the innovation and designs of these teams as they demonstrate the many possibilities of attractive energy-efficient and cost-effective homes," said Phillip Walters, senior vice president of product marketing for Bosch home appliances. "This competition is the perfect combination of a vision for the sustainable home design of tomorrow, implemented today."

As the recipient of the 2013 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award, Bosch is proud to showcase the following products in these homes. 

• Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCR-Arc) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech): DALE, which stands for the Dynamic Augmented Living Environment, is the entry from Pasadena-based Caltech and its partner, SCI-Arc. The home features a Bosch Axxis laundry pair, a Bosch electric cooktop, Bosch ventilation and a Bosch wall oven. Bosch 500 and 800 series wall ovens feature the Bosch-exclusive Genuine European Convection that allows at-home chefs to easily cook an entire meal at once, without the transfer of flavors or aromas. By cooking the meal at once, homeowners not only save time -- up to 30 percent less cooking time -- but also energy. 
• Santa Clara University: The entry from Santa Clara University highlights a Bosch Axxis laundry pair, a Bosch wall oven, a Bosch dishwasher, Bosch ventilation and a Bosch induction cooktop, which is made of 90 percent recycled materials. Induction cooking is 30 percent more energy efficient than traditional cooking. Additionally, the AutoChef feature on Bosch induction cooktops measure the temperature from the bottom of the pan and only applies the perfect amount of energy to deliver precise cooking results, every time, and without wasting energy. 
• University of Southern California (USC): fluxHome from the University of Southern California includes a Bosch Axxis laundry pair, a Bosch induction cooktop, Bosch built-in refrigeration, Bosch over-the-range microwave, Bosch wall oven, Bosch range with an electric cooktop, as well as two Bosch 800 Plus dishwashers. Bosch dishwashers are the quietest and most efficient dishwashers on the market in normal operation and are 11 percent more efficient on average than ENERGY STAR requirements, saving up to 170 gallons a year.
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas: DesertSol from Team Las Vegas of UNLV includes Bosch built-in refrigeration, a Bosch dishwasher, Bosch ventilation, a Bosch induction cooktop, a Bosch built-in wall oven and the Bosch Axxis laundry pair in its home. Bosch washers exceed ENERGY STAR requirements by up to 20 percent, while Bosch dryers feature a series of moisture and temperature sensors that work together to determine when the clothes are dry, cutting down on energy usage.

The Solar Decathlon will take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif. Free to the public Thursdays through Sundays, the competition houses will be open to visitors for eight days over two weekends, Oct. 3-13, 2013. The Solar Decathlon enables visitors to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes and learn how simple energy-saving features can help them save money today, while benefiting the generations of tomorrow.