The Solar Decathlon recently unfolded in Washington, D.C., bringing 20 student teams from universities in the United States and Europe. The Solar Decathlon, which happens every other year, showcases high-tech solar homes built and designed by college students majoring in architecture and engineering.

The solar homes competed for points in 10 categories: architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort zone, appliances, hot water, lighting, energy balance, and “getting around.” While striving to fulfill these requirements, the homes had to operate completely off grid.

According to an article by the New York Times, there was nothing Spartan about the homes, which proved a point that going solar doesn’t equate with making sacrifices to luxury, comfort, and even beauty. The student teams, for instance, designed the solar homes to keep TVs on for 6 hours a day and the computer for 5, exclusively on solar power. In addition, they all had the capacity for cooking, dishwashing, and laundry, and each had individual trademarks such as an indoor waterfall or wraparound wooden shutters.

Just as interesting as the event itself is public reaction to the Solar Decathlon. Even proponents of solar energy can’t help but wonder if the 1 million donated dollars required to build each competing home and the excessive shipping costs to send them to D.C. couldn’t have been put to better, more practical use. Some say the Department of Energy sponsors the event simply to draw publicity.

After reading dozens of reader comments following the NY Times coverage, it becomes evident that more people want to see solar succeed, and most realize that even small degrees of solar success in the United States help decrease dependence on foreign oil while being healthier for the environment. The Solar Decathlon prove a serious point about solar homes: they work. Participating students not only learn about building and design, but how to raise money for their projects. The event encourages future architects and home designers, as well their supporters, to help build a future niche for solar homes. Whether or not it is a practical route to that future is up to every individual to decide. Where the solar home entries are fated to land when the competition’s over is also unclear.

Photo Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon

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Posted on January 24th in Solar News by Renee.