College teams build solar-powered homes on Mall

Media Credit: MCT CAMPUS ENERGY EFFICIENT - Students from Penn State work on completing their house for the third annual Solar Decathlon on the National Mall Oct. 4. The entry, called MorningStar, is an 800-square-foot home powered by solar energy. The competition was held from Oct. 12 to 20, and 20 universities entered the international competition. Each home was 800 square feet and was judged on functionality. A German school, Technishe Universität Darmstadt, placed first and the University of Maryland came second.

From Oct. 12 to Oct. 20, the National Mall turned into what the neighborhoods of the future may look like.

The Department of Energy's third annual Solar Decathlon featured homes submitted by 20 universities from around the world.

Each 800-square foot home incorporated the latest technology trying to create the most energy-efficient homes. The teams of an average of 20 faculty, students and staff not only had to produce an energy-efficient and balanced home, but also had to have an attractive design, quality engineering and the ability to produce the standard comforts of living, such as useful and artistic lighting, heavy-duty appliances and an energy-efficient air conditioning system.

Judges rated how well each home did based on its architecture, construction and engineering to decide on the most attractive and energy efficient solar-powered home.

Judges presented Oct. 18 a trophy to Technische Universität Darmstadt in Germany as the winner of the Solar Decathlon.

University of Maryland, which won second place, was the school located closest to AU to participate in the event.

If AU had an engineering or architecture department, it would be possible for the school to send a team to compete, said Abby Wihl, a sophomore in the School of Communication who went to the decathlon.

"But we're not that advanced in math," she said. "We're not that specialized in those areas."

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