Solar Decathlon

by Kent Griswold on September 22nd, 2011. 7 Comments

The annual Solar Decathlon is this next week from September 23 to October 2. Located on the National Mall, West Potomac Park in Washington D.C. If you live close it would be very interesting to visit. I wish I could get out there.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. For complete information  visit the Solar Decathlon website.

Posted September 22nd, 2011 by Kent Griswold and filed in Announcement
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7 Comments

Solar Decathlon 2009

by Kent Griswold on October 21st, 2009. 5 Comments

Craig one of our readers had the opportunity to go to the Solar Decathlon in Washington DC. and wanted to fill us in on this exciting event. Here is what Craig has to say about it.

Sorry to take so long to get back to you on the Solar Decathlon houses on the mall in DC.

I’d taken pictures, but they didn’t turn out so great what with all the crowds. As it happens, the solar decathlon webpage has some great videos for each house on the front page that do a far better job of showing off the houses than I could.

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Team Germany was just announced the winner, though my favorite was Team Louisiana’s Beausoleil house. They plan on marketing the houses as modular homes in the next couple of years with a price around $120,000 including the solar panels.

The maximum size limit for the houses was 800 square feet and they all had to be off the grid/independent. Continue Reading »