Get Energy Smart! NOW!

I plan to write more about this but just to put out there.  From 12-20 Oct 2007, there will be a serious “solar village” on the Mall in Washington, DC, in a competition of 20 universities and colleges as to the best solar-powered home.  

The Solar Decathlon is a seriously Energy COOL event. 

Solar Decathlon 2007
Date: October 12-20, 2007
Taking Place In: National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Presented by: sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in partnership with its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The American Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), BP, and Sprint
For More Information: Visit, http://www.solardecathlon.org/.
Tour Description: Twenty teams have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon. The teams, from colleges and universities around the globe, participate in an unparalleled solar competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home. In fall 2007, the teams transport their solar houses to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where they form a solar village. The teams compete in 10 contests to determine an overall winner. Using only energy from the sun, the teams generate enough electricity to run a modern household. With an eye on energy efficiency, the students carefully choose the systems, products, and appliances used in their houses.
Tour Fee: Free
How to Take this Tour: Solar Decathlon 2007 takes place on the National Mall in Washington D.C., October 12 – 20, 2007.
The team houses in the “solar village” are open for public tours 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., weekends, and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. weekdays, except Wednesday, October 17, when the houses are closed for competition purposes. See the schedule for more information.