Solar power rocks!

October 17, 2005 10:39 PM

The Solar Decathlon 2005 winners announced.The Solar Decathlon brings together 18 teams of college and university students from around the globe to participate in an unparalleled solar competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home.
posted by mathowie (9 comments total)

Florida's house was gorgeous.
posted by mathowie at 10:40 PM on October 17, 2005

WOO! Go Julee! I'm taking a class right now from the professor that heads up the winning team. She lives and breathes this stuff and deserves the top spot [again].
posted by iloveit at 11:08 PM on October 17, 2005

#4, woo! It's a shame I didn't get to stop by and see the thing while it was on display here.

And check out the UMich entry.
posted by musicinmybrain at 4:17 AM on October 18, 2005

This is interesting. Thanks.

As a soon to be home-builder, I was wanting more practical information about the technology used. Also, a per-square-foot cost contest would be valuable too, so that we can compare the feasability of using these methods and technologies.
posted by recurve at 4:54 AM on October 18, 2005

You've got to understand that the Virginia Tech placing was a significant achievement, since engineers in Blacksburg have only second-hand knowledge about sunlight.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:26 AM on October 18, 2005

The Madrid Polytechnic house, I think, was definately the most attractive. It looked the least like a trailer and, unlike most of the others, wasn't totally defaced by the wheelchair ramp that makes the structure look more like a commercial space than a residential space. Pittsburgh Synergy's house avoids that effect, too.
posted by Jon-o at 7:05 AM on October 18, 2005

Another aesthetic vote for Madrid, gorgeous. Florida's was nice as well. Some of the others looked awful. I guess you could either love or hate the UMich house, but I fall into the latter category.

I wish they had more details on the technology, especially in the winning entries.
posted by caddis at 7:14 AM on October 18, 2005

It was so packed when I was there, I only saw about 8 of the houses, but I would have lived in any of them at the drop of a hat. Cornell's was like a dream home for me. Colorado's was far too crowded to visit, unfortunately.

I got all excited that these were the fruits of labour from a particular program at each school only to find out that the teams are made up of folks from across the board. I really wish there was an interdisciplinary program that focused on all of the aspects. That would be a kick-ass program of study.
posted by shoepal at 1:07 PM on October 18, 2005

Do the houses stay there, or go back to their respective campuses? It would be cool to film an sf movie scene there.
posted by dhartung at 10:18 PM on October 18, 2005