The Solar Decathalon is Underway

[SoCalDem]

Click link to get to many other fun links about the event

The Solar Decathlon Is Underway

* Posted by: Andrew Price
* on October 13, 2009 at 11:10 am

Right now, the National Mall in Washington, D.C. is packed with the houses of the future. Teams from colleges and universities around the globe came to the city with the most efficient homes they could dream up to take part in the Solar Decathlon, a design competition sponsored the Department of Energy.

The houses compete in ten areas (that’s what makes it a decathlon) ranging from “energy balance” to “lighting.” So far the team from Santa Clara University and the California College of Arts won the “architecture” contest and University of Louisiana at Lafayette won the “market viability” contest (Treehugger has video of both).

For more, check out Inhabitat’s running coverage of the event, TreehuggerTV, and the Department of Energy’s awesome Flickr set.

Energy secretary Steven Chu has been hanging around the event checking out the buildings and making $87 million announcements. The buildings will be open for the public to tour come Friday.

[krispos42]

1. This is off-topic, but your sigline pic is hilarious

I've been meaning to tell you for a couple of weeks now.

:rofl:

[SoCalDem]

2. thanks.. just a cat..being a cat

:)

[RadicalGeek]

3. I heard about this on NPR

If this had existed when I was at college. I would have been on board. Sounds like the teams could use a "RadicalGeek"

[SpiralHawk]

4. "This is evil, librul socialism." - Rush 'DraftDodger' Limbaugh (R)

"Real Americans will jump into their Hummers and drive to Washington to protest these socialist solar innovations, and demand that the government continue massive Republicon subsidies to the oil & gas corporations, while also screaming loudly to be sure we maintain Massive Profits for health care corporations and FatCat Republicon Radio demagogues. Sneer. Smirk."

- Rush 'DraftDodger' Limbaugh (R)

[seemunkee]

5. Went down to it on Saturday

Unfortunatly we got a late start and only got to tour one house, the leading Team California. Not only was it a nice design, but we liked that the had some very good student created art work in the house. I thought the Cornell one was interesting looking with 4 silo sections making up the house.
The German Team this year and two years ago both used more thin film solar panels than most of the other houses.
Wish I had time this weekend to go down and see more of the houses, I'll guess I'll have to wait another two years.