The DOE’s Solar Decathlon is one of the world’s most popular public solar events. Since it was first introduced the European Union and now China have developed their own solar decathlons. A major element of these events is public outreach and education. Dow Corning has stepped up to become a sustaining sponsor of 2011’s U.S. Solar Decathlon, which runs from Sept. 23 to Oct. 2, by creating educational resources for middle school students to expand their knowledge and interest in sustainability.

“This is the second Solar Decathlon that we’ve been a part of. The last one we were a smaller sponsor,” said Dow Corning spokesperson Jarrod Erpelding.

The company thinks it’s important to show and demonstrate the use of solar and energy-efficient technologies, he said.

“It’s just essential for us to participate on a greater level,” he said.

As part of the expanded sponsorship, Dow Corning will oversee the creation of educational resources for middle school students. The resources will focus on solar and importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to the present and future of renewables, according to a press release.

Children going to school in the Washington, D.C., area will be bused in to the Solar Decathlon, Erpelding said. The company will provide them and their teachers with educational resources.

Dow Corning is developing a renewable energy curriculum for teachers, a Student Welcome & Education Center at the Decathlon and a student-oriented Solar Decathlon program, according to the release.

"Education, research and development, and manufacturing are part of a cycle that allows the United States to compete in a fast-paced global market," Dow Corning CEO Robert Hansen said in the release. The participation will help future generations to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges, he said.

The company manufactures materials for the solar industry and has bolstered its position in the solar and sustainability industries over the past few years, according to Erpelding.

It’s a significant portion of our business,” he said. “We see it being an even more significant portion of our business.”

Already the company and its partner Hemlock Semiconductor Group have invested more than $5 billion in solar research and development over the past six years, according to Erpelding.

“We make those investments because they’re a great business opportunity for us.”

The company already is experiencing returns on those investments, Erpelding said. But the privately-held company doesn’t disclose what portion of their business or sales are from solar.

Photo: Chris Meehan / Clean Energy Authority.