Last week 20 college and university teams competed in the Department of Energy’s third Solar Decathlon. Each team's challenge: to design and build a fully functioning home powered solely by the sun. The homes were built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and were open for public viewing. As competing students have to stretch every watt of electricity generated by the solar panels on their roofs, they learn that energy is a precious commodity. Using high-tech materials, design elements, and sheer ingenuity, they figure out ways to heat and cool the homes and run all those plugged-in conveniences we rely on every day—fridges, washers, dryers, small appliances, electronics, automatic toilet seat warmers, you name it.
Which team won? Visit the official Web site, www.SolarDecathlon.org, to find out. While you’re there, enjoy a few of the Virtual House Tours. You’ll be inspired by the creativity involved, and excited about the possibilities.
