Solar Decathlon

submitted by caroline solomon

The Solar Decathlon is a competition in which 20 teams of college
and university students compete to design, build, and operate the
most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house.
The Solar Decathlon is also an event to which the public is invited
to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy
efficiency, and the best in home design.

The event takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.,
October 12 - 20. The team houses are open for touring everyday,
except Wednesday, October 17, when they will close for competition
purposes. An overall winner is announced on Friday, October 19 at 2 p.m.

Teams of college students design a solar house, knowing from the
outset that it must be powered entirely by the sun. In a quest to
stretch every last watt of electricity that's generated by the solar
panels on their roofs, the students absorb the lesson that energy is
a precious commodity. They strive to innovate, using high-tech
materials and design elements in ingenious ways. Along the way, the
students learn how to raise funds and communicate about team
activities. They collect supplies and talk to contractors. They build
their solar houses, learning as they go.

The 20 teams transport their solar houses to the competition site on
the National Mall and virtually rebuild them in the solar village.
Teams assemble their houses, and then the active phase of the Solar
Decathlon begins with an opening ceremony for students, media, and
invited guests. The teams compete in contests, and even though this
part of the Solar Decathlon gets the most attention, the students
really win the competition through the many months of fund raising,
planning, designing, analyzing, redesigning, and finally building and
improving their homes. The public is invited to tour the solar homes
and event exhibits during much of the competition.

For more information, check http://www.solardecathlon.org/