Solar Decathlon shines in DC   ~  DOE » Local Angle: Pennsylvania is represented by a team from Penn State University.  Oct. 9, 2009 - Twenty solar homes have suddenly appeared on the National Mall in Washington D.C., representing a two-year effort of over 800 students competing in the 2009 Solar Decathlon.
The twenty teams competing in the 2009 Solar Decathlon gathered on the National Mall on Thursday, October 8 for opening ceremonies.

Twenty solar homes have suddenly appeared on the National Mall, representing a two-year erudite effort of over 800 students competing in the 2009 Solar Decathlon.

The decathlon is an international event in which the Department of Energy, DOE, challenges university teams to design and build homes that run entirely on solar energy. The teams were chosen two years ago.

Students have to perform everyday tasks, such as cooking, doing the laundry, and even washing dishes, to test the energy efficiency of their homes. Within the decathlon, there are ten contests that include architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort, appliances, water heating, lighting, home entertainment, as well as a special two-part net metering competition, during which teams are not only rated on their energy production, but receive a bonus for producing more energy than their home consumes.

Competing teams are: Cornell University, Iowa State University, Penn State University, Rice University, Team Alberta, Team Boston, Team California, Team Germany, Ohio State University, Team Missouri, Team Ontario, Team Spain, University of Arizona, Universidad de Puerto Rico, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Kentucky, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, and Virginia Tech.

The twenty teams shipped their partially constructed homes to the National Mall, assembled them, and opened them to the public on Friday. The overall winner of the competition will be announced on October 16.

The homes will be open to the public from October 9-13 and 15-18, and will be open for tours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

For more information, visit the Dept. of Energy.