About the OCSD
Building A Better Future
The Need for Sustainability
Imagining the Future of California
California has reached a tipping point and the need to mitigate climate change is clear. We need resilient, sustainable housing. In addition, with the rising cost of living in California, we need more affordable homes.
Above all, we cannot accomplish this without an engaged public.
For this reason, we are proud to announce the inaugural Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. Nearly 20 college teams—many from California, others from across the world—are currently designing innovative homes of the future that are powered by renewable energy. The teams will assemble and display the homes at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, CA, at a major public event October 5-15, 2023.
Officials will evaluate the homes based on 10 contests. The winners will be those teams that best blend affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Leadership
Event Overview
The California Legislature adopted the bold and commendable goal of being 100% reliant on renewable energy by 2045. To achieve this, we must harness the creative energy of students and rich resources within the academic community.
The Orange County Sustainability Decathlon is an exciting new competition that promises to motivate and empower California’s best and brightest to lead the state’s transition to 100% renewable energy.
OCSD23 challenges multidisciplinary teams of students, researchers, architects, engineers, builders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to design and build replicable housing units that aim to accelerate sustainable development throughout the state.
