The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), entry into the Solar Decathlon could be called understated from the outside, a form and boarding reminiscent of 19th century barns with a stunning interior, all built to Passiv Haus standards. The Gable House is a well-conceived residence, combining 100 year old wood boards on outside with leading edge […]
Entries Tagged as 'solar decathlon'
Something old, Something New: A Gable on the Mall
October 15th, 2009 · Comments Off on Something old, Something New: A Gable on the Mall
Tags: solar · solar decathlon · Solar Energy
Menendez lays down a solar challenge
October 13th, 2009 · Comments Off on Menendez lays down a solar challenge
One Senator has chosen to pay attention to The Solar Decathlon on the Mall and issue a challenge. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has issued A Challenge to Universities. He opened with a strong statement of praise and support for The Solar Decathlon. Every two years at this time of year, an exciting thing happens on […]
Tags: Congress · department of energy · Energy · environmental · solar · solar decathlon · Solar Energy
Let’s see some bets under the sun
October 12th, 2009 · Comments Off on Let’s see some bets under the sun
The U.S. Congress is often the site of friendly (sometimes not so friendly) wagering, when rival teams meet each other in important events. This occurs around University football games, World Series, the Superbowl, March Madness, and other competitions. Right now, there is a 20-team competition underway almost literally in the shadow of the US Congress […]
Tags: Energy · political symbols · politics · solar · solar decathlon · Solar Energy · sports
The NORTHern Sun Hits The Mall
October 11th, 2009 · Comments Off on The NORTHern Sun Hits The Mall
Solar innovation has come to The National Mall from the north as part of the 2009 Solar Decathlon, with two Canadian teams out of the 20 energy efficient solar powered homes. Team Ontario/BC took their geography to heat, forming Team North to North House to Washington, DC. Considering where they come from, no surprise that […]
Tags: department of energy · Energy · solar · solar decathlon
A corner of The National Mall is s•ky blue
October 10th, 2009 · 4 Comments
The University of Kentucky has brought its own color to a plot on The National Mall. . Their entry into the Solar Decathlon, as one of 20 energy efficient solar powered homes,, is called “s•ky blue” with the motto “live.light”. As with all the houses, s•ky blue almost certainly exceeds the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s […]
Tags: solar · solar decathlon
Showing some CURIOsity at The Mall
October 10th, 2009 · 3 Comments
Thronging The National Mall at this time are thousands of curious people, visiting the Solar Decathlon with the 20 energy efficient solar powered homes, being awed by their designs, their technologies, and their visions for the future. Team Boston has centered their entire project around that very sense of curiosity, with CURIO House having as […]
Tags: department of energy · Energy · energy cool · solar · solar decathlon · Solar Energy
“CASH is green”
October 10th, 2009 · Comments Off on “CASH is green”
Each of the Solar Decathlon’s 20 teams developed their own philosophy, developed within their own regional requirements and styles, and developed a sustainable home from that. Some teams aimed for the upscale market, creating visions for the Hampton beach goer or the empty nesters sipping wine in Napa Valley. While those on the high might […]
Tags: Energy · global warming deniers · politics · solar · solar decathlon · Solar Energy
A Napa Solar Vision on The National Mall
October 8th, 2009 · 6 Comments
Team California brought to the Mall a home where life will follow the sun. The Refract House, a three room (or, dependent on weather, four counting the patio) home is laid out so that life moves through the house with the sun. One wakes in the east, as the sun enters into the bedroom, life […]
Tags: Energy · solar · solar decathlon
Secretary Chu Hits the Mall for Solar Decathlon … and hits the Chamber while he’s at it
October 8th, 2009 · 2 Comments
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu went to the National Mall today to visit the Solar Decathlon, with Chu’s Decathlon visit featured on the White House blog I just helped kick-off the Department of Energy’s 2009 Solar Decathlon. This is a unique student competition on the National Mall that showcases the latest energy efficiency and solar […]
Tags: Energy · Secretary of Energy Steven Chu · solar · solar decathlon
Making an ICON-ic statement about a better tomorrow?
October 7th, 2009 · 8 Comments
The University of Minnesota’s Solar Decathlon team‘s handout to visitors to the DOE Solar Decathlon, which opens Thursday on the Mall in Washington, DC, (which I had a chance to visit earlier today) is subtitled “A New Tradition”. Their ICON Solar House hopefully is just that, a representation and sign of “a new tradition” that […]
Tags: eco-friendly · Energy · energy cool · solar · solar decathlon · Solar Energy