DOE Solar Decathalon showcases 20 solar homes and importance of state universities

October 13, 1:10 PMDC Museum ExaminerLiz Geltman

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Winning team. Photo by Stefano Paltera/U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon

If there is any event that showcases the importance of good, public higher education, it is the the United States Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon currently taking place on the National Mall. Today marks day 13 of the Fourth Solar Decathlon sponsored by the United State Department of Energy. A walk through the Solar Village and a number of things are apparent. First, most of the twenty teams competing in the event are made up of students from large state universities. Second, the students competing on the teams have a wide variety of majors and backgrounds, but share a passion for solar energy. Third, the  interest in solar energy is no longer academic as the long lines the public are willing to wait in to view these homes echo an interest that is more than mere curiosity.

Every other year for the past eight years or so, the National Mall becomes a temporary solar village as host to the Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon. Like any decathlon, the twenty teams selected by DOE to compete on the mall are judged in ten contests: architecture (100 points); market viability (100 points);  engineering (100 points); lighting design (75 points); communications (75 points); comfort zone (100 points); hot water (100 points); appliances (100 points); home entertainment (100 points); and net metering (150 points).

Talking with the students in the solar village it is clear that they take all ten contests very seriously. In early years, engineering students predominated the teams. This year the team members from most teams come from a variety of studies. Along with architects and engineers, most teams take advantage of the skills of artists who design furniture for the houses, computer scientists to help create the computer brains that control of the energy efficiency and comfort of the home, business students help the team work within budget and land scape designers who try to meld the waste disposal function with art. At Cornell University's house, a group of hotel students prepared food in their solar house for competing teams.

Yesterday, October 12, 2009, the judges scored, reached decisions and presented the first place award for  market viability (100 points) to The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Rice University won second place. Team California and Iowa State University tied for third.

The first place award for architecture (100 points) was given to Team California. Rice University took second again. Third place went to Virgina Tech and Team Germany.

As a result of these awards, Team California moved into first place. Team Germany moved into second place. Rice University moved into third place. The race is close. Only 14 points separate the top three teams.

The results of the communications contest will be announced some time today. The Solar Village on the National Mall will be closed to the public tomorrow for judging. The Solar Village will be open today and October 15 through 18 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.