Solar Decathlon

The BP Solar Decathlon just ended, with the team from Technische Universität Darmstadt taking first place. The contest involved 10 teams from around North America and Europe, all competing to build the most efficient solar house. Each team was made up of students from a variety of disciplines, including architecture, engineering, economics, and more. Once relegated to the land of hippies, solar power is once again receiving attention as the impact of global warming is felt around the world. This was the third decathlon since the event was founded in 2002, and as in previous years, teams built their solar houses at home, tested them, and then transported them to the National Mall to form a solar village. Their task was to run their entire house using only energy from the sun. Visitors to the Mall were able to interact with the teams there and check out the houses themselves. The event was sponsored by BP, which offers residential solar solutions to help make every house solar-powered. You can get a quote online, or visit your local Home Depot for information on purchasing a BP solar system. (It is unlikely, though, that the store itself will be solar-powered, even though BP does offer business solutions as well.)