The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the US Department of Energy (Washington, DC) announced that 14 university teams from across the US are shipping solar homes to Washington for the Solar Decathlon. The objective of the competition is to design and build energy-efficient, solar-powered homes. The event will be staged on the National Mall from September 26 to October 5, 2002.
Each house is limited to 500ft² and judged on efficient use of solar energy to heat and cool the space; heat water; provide power for lighting, appliances and computers; as well as charge an electric car. A jury of architects will evaluate the attractiveness, livability and effectiveness of each home, while officials from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Washington, DC) will measure energy production and use.
