Photos Of The Day
Solar Decathlon 2007
High-resolution photos for many of these images are available in the Photo Library.
October 3-22, 2007
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October 3, 2007
Cranes dominate the landscape on the first day of the Solar Decathlon.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The team from the Universidad de Puerto Rico lifts the second section of their house into place.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
John Morris of the University of Maryland takes a breather while working on his team's house.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Matt Weaver and his teammates from the University of Texas at Austin show off their team's decidedly Texan version of the hard hat.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Hard hats are the fashion du jour during the early days of the Solar Decathlon. Although teams are eager to assemble their solar homes, safety always comes first.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 4, 2007
The erection of an official entry gate marks progress toward next week's opening of the Solar Decathlon. The partially completed homes of the University of Colorado and the Technische Universität Darmstadt are visible in the background.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
The Kansas Project Solar House features a futuristic metal exterior.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
Malek Bessaad of the Georgia Institute of Technology works by the diffuse glow of sunlight filtering through the home's walls, which are filled with aerogel. Aerogel, sometimes described as "solid smoke," is a gel with an extremely low density, which makes it an excellent insulator.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
A crane lowers a top section of the University of Colorado at Boulder home into place.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
With all its insulation exposed to the elements, the Team Montréal house looks a bit ragged right now, as it awaits its outer shell.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
The home from the New York Institute of Technology is taking shape quickly.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
A new cladding has been added to the Penn State house: slate tiles, recycled and reused from an old barn.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
October 5, 2007
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman greets the team from Michigan's Lawrence Technological University.
(Credit: Ken Shipp/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Ken Shipp/Solar Decathlon)
Secretary Bodman and DOE's Richard King share a laugh with members of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign team.
(Credit: Ken Shipp/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Ken Shipp/Solar Decathlon)
The team from Carnegie Mellon University are hard at work on the interior of their house.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Heather Korb of the New York Institute of Technology finds a quiet moment to use her computer. Sprint started providing high-speed wireless Internet to the Solar Decathlon on Thursday afternoon. In the spirit of the cutting-edge competition, the company sends its research engineers to the event to test out the company's most advanced equipment.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The exteriors of many homes are now nearing completion, and a number of teams took to their roofs today to install solar panels.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Harold Remlinger and Brian Eady of the Lawrence Technological University install solar panels on the roof of the team's home.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The University of Maryland team was also installing its solar panels today.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Mike Howell and Jennifer Ny work on the roof of the Cornell House to wire up the team's solar panels.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 6, 2007
Late at night, the Solar Decathlon takes on a ghostly appearance under the harsh white glare of portable lights.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
Walking into the glare of artificial lights, the team from the Kansas Project Solar House prepares to tackle another task.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
On Tuesday night, some members of the University of Maryland team worked on the roof...
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
...while others worked on the front shutters.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
Andy Lau and Lee Gorny installed solar panels on the roof of the Penn State house.
(Credit: Byron Stafford/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Byron Stafford/Solar Decathlon)
During the night, the Texas A&M team put together their front deck...
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
...and during the day on Wednesday, Ross Charba did some fine-tuning by grinding some of the deck support girders.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
Later that day, some members of the Georgia Tech team pitched in to help the team from the University of Colorado at Boulder to move a heavy metal shading device.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
October 7, 2007
The team from the University of Cincinnati takes a dinner break on Saturday evening.
(Credit: Byron Stafford/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Byron Stafford/Solar Decathlon)
Lee Ann Holwager, a safety officer at the Solar Decathlon, discusses safety issues with two Santa Clara University team members on Saturday night.
(Credit: Byron Stafford/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Byron Stafford/Solar Decathlon)
The teams from Carnegie Mellon University and the Technische Universität Darmstadt enjoy a barbeque sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
Many teams are now installing solar thermal systems on their houses. Nearly all the teams employ "evacuated tube collectors" to gather the solar heat. These are glass tubes with a vacuum inside them as insulation to keep them from losing heat. A metal tube with fins collects the sun's heat, transferring it to water that passes through the tubes, thereby heating the water. In this photo, Nansen Yu and Myra Wong of Cornell University install evacuated tube collectors on their team's house.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
Christopher Davis of the University of Cincinnati cleans evacuated tube solar collectors on the south side of the team's house. The team is using solar heat rather than electricity as the main driving force for their air conditioning, so they need a large bank of solar thermal collectors. Air conditioning that is driven by solar heat is called "solar absorption cooling."
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
The Penn State house combines the new and old: reused slate tiles from an old barn on the right, and new solar "slates" on the left.
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kevin Eber/Solar Decathlon)
October 8, 2007
One of the leaders of site operations for the Solar Decathlon, Robi Robichaud, meets with his team on the morning of day six to get ready for the much-anticipated delivery of water to each of the twenty competing houses.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
On this day, water is taken from a tanker truck to fill the storage tanks of each house, as seen here at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology solar home; this supply will need to last MIT and each of the Decathlon teams for the entire competition.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
While this tank atop Carnegie Mellon University's "green wall" is being filled initially from the water tanker, it is actually intended to collect rainwater during the event to provide water for the vegetation below.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Many members of each team pitch in to hold and control the hose leading from the tanker to their house's storage tank, and here Ben Barnes joins his University of Illinois teammates in guiding the supply hose to their tank.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
And some of all this water will go toward the beautiful landscaping being arrayed around the houses, like this group of plants ready and waiting for installation at the Madrid house.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Today, the sixth day of the event, is significant in that all of the houses must transition to full solar power; here the generator at the Kansas Project Solar House (Kansas State University and University of Kansas) is now still, while the equally quiet PV panels power all of the house.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
October 9, 2007
Washington's Fox 5 Morning News visits the Solar Decathlon site and tours some of the homes. Reporter Holly Morris interviews DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner outside of the University of Texas at Austin house, before taking a tour.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Texas A&M University's hydroponic garden and array of evacuated tube solar collectors for heating water are an integral part of their house design. The garden and screen offers privacy to the deck area and the interior living space. The collectors are carefully placed to receive optimal sunlight on the tubes, even though the screen itself is on the north side of the patio. The water in the garden pond reflects radiant solar heat back up onto the tubes.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Team member Meredith Magin waters one of Carnegie Mellon University's three Global Gardens, just installed today. The gardens are a series of living displays symbolizing current and future land use throughout the world, with each small plastic square over the plants representing a carbon footprint.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Milk bottles! Even the most common-place items can have an important place in the solar-powered home. These bottles are ready for installation in the Penn State house's "milk bottle wall." The bottles will be filled with aerogel or water and placed as passive solar storage—they will absorb heat during the day and give it back in the cooler evening. Any glass container will work, but the milk bottles are in honor of Pennsylvania's dairy farm heritage.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Members of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid team install the deck of their house, which, once completed, will have a great view of the U.S. Capitol building.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
With decathletes enjoying another record-setting 90-degree-plus day, there is no shortage of early afternoon sun in the solar village. Looking down the north side of Decathlete Way, the solar houses of Santa Clara University, Universidad de Puerto Rico, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Maryland are visible.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
October 10, 2007
As the Decathletes enter the final stretch before opening day, each team focuses on what needs to be done to finish. The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid team has some external work left to be done and a yard that will soon need some cleaning.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The University of Missouri-Rolla team, on the other hand, concentrates more on interior work, while also finishing up their front porch and exterior painting.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Much of the work today is directed at completing decks and porches, like this duo from Team Montréal (École de Technologie Supérieure, Université de Montréal, and McGill University). The vegetation seen on the side of their house serves several sustainable purposes, including growing edible plants, providing cooling and insulation, and, of course, being attractive.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The Technische Universität Darmstadt team is working hard to complete their deck in time for opening day. Their design includes a large deck space to allow for team social gatherings with visitors. Their plan stresses the comfortable living aspects of an all-solar home.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology house, under the ever-watchful Washington Monument, a safely tethered worker is finishing the flashing around their skylights.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
MIT teammate Christyn Sheriff is giving the interior walls a good coat of paint to be sure that their house will be ready for the opening ceremony and tours on Friday.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
October 11, 2007
Team members of the Universidad de Puerto Rico finish some last minute construction on their entryway. They will have an attractive and welcoming ramp to the door come this evening's tours.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The Georgia Institute of Technology team is precision tuning their ramp to be ready for inspections and public tours.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The attractive entryway to the University of Cincinnati house features informational signs for the public and is proudly shown off by team member Brian Whitright.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Vegetation abounds in the solar village and serves purposes beyond looking beautiful, such as shading, cooling, and providing edible plants. One example of lush greenery is the Penn State house site.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
A lot of behind-the-scenes work is going on at the Solar Decathlon, including the important work done by the instrumentation team, which has been quietly getting the houses ready for accurate measuring for the objective contests. Here we see team members, from left to right, Sara Farrar-Nagy, Gregg Barker, and Ed Hancock heading off on their duties—oddly reminiscent of a famous album cover isn't it?
(Credit: Paul Norton/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Paul Norton/Solar Decathlon)
October 12, 2007
Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman cuts the ribbon to open the Solar Decathlon. After eight days of assembly, the solar village is ready to receive the public.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Secretary Bodman opens the Solar Decathlon by congratulating the students on their hard work and dedication in completing their houses, which he calls "marvels of engineering."
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Members of the University of Texas at Austin team are all smiles on opening day of the 2007 Solar Decathlon.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Universidad Politécnica de Madrid team members enjoy today's Opening Ceremony. The sunny day is a boon to the solar panels on the roof.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Carnegie Mellon team comes to the Opening Ceremony in style, with a bagpiper leading the way.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Larger-than-anticipated crowds come to the solar village on opening day. Long lines form as the visitors show their eagerness to tour these state-of-the-art houses.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 13, 2007
The Texas A&M home features an elegant kitchen, set for a dinner party for four. The daylighting design brings welcome brightness into the space.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Communications jurors tour the University of Colorado at Boulder home. Team members escort the jury through the house and describe its features, just as they would for the house tours given to the public.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Lacy Swanson of the Cornell team waters the abundant landscaping of the house. Many of the teams are using generous plantings this year, which adds a nice touch to the solar village and makes the home more livable.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
A member of the Technische Universität Darmstadt team grabs a quiet moment to catch up on his work.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Kansas Project Solar House team presents to the Architecture Jury. After the presentation, the jurors, who are genuinely curious and interested in the designs, ask questions of the students.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Blenda Martineu of the Universidad de Puerto Rico team tends to plants in the team's hydroponics garden on an exterior wall of the house. This team named its project "Cell House," because they drew inspiration from the self-sufficiency of a single plant cell.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 14, 2007
Sunday was a repeat of Saturday in terms of numbers of visitors who came to the solar village. This photo was taken earlier in the day before the crowds grew dense. From left are the Carnegie Mellon and Massachusetts Institute of Technology homes.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The jury for Market Appeal, which is part of the Market Viability contest, discusses the merits of the Technische Universität Darmstadt entry. In addition to market appeal and livability, these jurors are asked to evaluate whether the house could be built easily and accommodate a variety of potential homeowners.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The University of Illinois house design can be configured as a residence, as demonstrated for the Solar Decathlon, or a number of other structures, including field offices, relief structures, and summer homes. The building-block modules can be added as desired to create interesting configurations of different sizes.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
An Illinois team member points out features of the home. If the students aren't expert public speakers before the Decathlon, they can certainly make that claim after.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Carnegie Mellon's kitchen features generously sized appliances. A backlit translucent panel behind the kitchen counter casts a warm glow.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Karine Marcuso of Team Montréal describes the home to visitors during the public tour hours. The team is proudly representing Canada with a house named Lumen|Essence.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 15, 2007
The Darmstadt team reacts with joy on hearing of their first-place finish in the Architecture contest. This contest is worth 200 points, which is the highest point value of any of the contests.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Gregory Kiss, chair of the Architecture Jury, had the honor of announcing the finish order in the Architecture contest. Here, he takes a close look at the louvers on the Darmstadt home.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Maryland team earns a second-place award in the Architecture contest with their "LEAFHouse." The Architecture Jury lauded the team's use of "rich natural materials and quality of finishes."
(Credit: Richard King/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Richard King/Solar Decathlon)
Members of the Madrid team show their delight at receiving the third-place award in the Architecture contest.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Madrid house is colorful inside and out. The Architecture Jury commented on the house's wonderful palette of materials.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The University of Texas at Austin team designed a kitchen that is generously sized, which comes in handy at the Decathlon when so many people want to see it.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Texas team uses a model to explain the features of their house, such as details of the construction process and how the PV panels are hinged to the roof.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 16, 2007
Last night, the teams began the dinner party activity of the Appliances contest, in which they cook meals and invite their neighbors over for a friendly meal. Here, a member of the Missouri-Rolla team cooks up something special.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
John Kucia of the Maryland team takes a moment to check the team's Web site. The Maryland students are elated after winning the Communications contest today.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Julian Lupu and Nora Hendrickson of the Santa Clara team show off their handout that describes the house for visitors. Santa Clara placed second in the Communications contest.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Bear hugs all around! Penn State students worked hard on their communications activities and are serious about spreading the word on sustainability. Here, they show their elation at bringing home a third-place finish in that contest.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The solar village at night takes on a different appearance, especially when the houses are lit up for the Lighting contest. In this photo, the Carnegie Mellon house looks lovely in the glow cast on the greenscape.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Joe Bissaillon of the University of Cincinnati team answers questions during today's house tours. The living area of Cincinnati's house is particularly airy, because the whole south-facing wall separating it from the courtyard is glass.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Students on the New York Institute of Technology team really get into the spirit of the dinner party. The teams have a lot of fun meeting each other and breaking bread together.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 17, 2007
Sian Kleindienst of Massachusetts Institute of Technology takes a moment to answer a young boy's questions. The Decathlon is quite a learning experience for children and adults alike.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Lawrence Institute of Technology house shows off beautifully at night. The house exterior is a rainscreen system made from Skatelite, a product generally used for skateboarding ramps. The material is weatherproof, thin, lightweight, extremely durable, and made of paper—which is both renewable and sustainable.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Greg Sachs of the New York Institute of Technology knows all about the laundry task of the Appliances contest—he's a veteran of the 2005 Solar Decathlon who has come back for another try this year.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Members of the Maryland's team enjoy hanging out at the Solar Decathlon during their moment in the sun.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
How sweet it is to be on the Maryland team and to lead the Solar Decathlon on day five of the competition!
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Team Montréal members react to hearing of their third-place finish in the subjective portion of the Lighting contest. At day's end, Montréal ranks seventh in the overall competition.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Richard King directs the Solar Decathlon, which he also enjoys photographing. This shot of the solar village, taken from the roof of the Smithsonian Castle, shows off his work.
(Credit: Richard King/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Richard King/Solar Decathlon)
October 18, 2007
The team from the University of Illinois wins the Market Viability contest today. "Thank you for helping us show the public that these houses are viable," says team member Benjamin Barnes.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
From left, DOE Assistant Secretary Alexander Karsner and Spain's Under Secretary of Housing Fernando Magro sign a Memorandum of Understanding to export the Solar Decathlon to Europe, with the first competition scheduled for Madrid in 2010.
(Credit: Richard King/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Richard King/Solar Decathlon)
The University of Missouri-Rolla house shows a handsome profile, with the focus of this picture on the evacuated-tube collectors of the solar thermal system.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Wendy Larsen, a Decathlon organizer from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, changes the scoring leaderboard each morning.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
House tours for the public are brisk "business as usual" today as visitors come out in full force to tour the University of Colorado house and all the houses at the Decathlon.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Wilfredo Rodriguez of Puerto Rico describes the team's grey water pool. Grey water is non-industrial wastewater generated from domestic processes such as washing dishes, laundry, and bathing.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Students from Carnegie Mellon visit the Puerto Rico house to share stories-perhaps about how difficult it is dry a dozen fluffy towels, as required for the Appliances contest.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
On this beautiful day at the Decathlon, Georgia Tech students and faculty advisors gather for a team photo on the deck of their home.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 19, 2007
All 20 of the Solar Decathlon teams form a colorful and joyful procession to the awards ceremony.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Joy is on the faces of the Darmstadt team as they show off their overall Solar Decathlon first place trophy.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Maryland team gathers in front of their Solar Decathlon second place banner.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
Team members from Santa Clara University join Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman in front of the banner proclaiming their third place award in the Solar Decathlon.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
The Santa Clara team celebrates their third place announcement by Secretary Bodman in the packed awards ceremony.
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Kaye Evans-Lutterodt/Solar Decathlon)
October 20, 2007
People line up to see the overall winner of the 2007 Solar Decathlon, the Darmstadt house, well before official opening time at 10 am.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The Maryland house, the second place overall winner in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, also has the public eager to form a line before today's opening.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The Cornell team began the tradition at the 2005 Solar Decathlon of giving away their beautiful plants to visitors. Carrie Cam with Cornell continues this sharing of their home with a couple of this year's visitors.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
A visitor to the house from Kansas wonders about those feet under the ramp; witch feet are those?
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Visitors to the 2007 Solar Decathlon during its nine days had the opportunity to vote for their favorite house in a contest sponsored by BP Solar. Today, the votes were tabulated and the University of Maryland won the coveted People's Choice Award.
(Credit: Jim Tetro/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: Jim Tetro/Solar Decathlon)
October 21, 2007
A member of Team Montréal disassembles their house's roof-top photovoltaic panels for shipping back to Canada.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
A screen is removed from the Penn State house's lovely front porch.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Georgia Tech's house is also dismantled. Its façade that glowed so wonderfully after dark will be moved to shine again another night.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The beauty of Madrid's home still shines through as team members work on taking apart the deck.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
A member of the Maryland team carefully removes their evacuated tube collectors array, one tube at a time.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
October 22, 2007
The structural skeleton of Team Montréal's house is revealed as team members peel away the exterior.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
A University of Illinois team member takes time to send text messages in the midst of 18-wheelers being used for the move back home.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
A Darmstadt team member continues disassembly within view of the U.S. Capitol building.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The colorful University of Cincinnati house is sectioned off for easier shipping by truck back to Ohio.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
University of Missouri-Rolla team members show coordinated teamwork as they use a hand-cranked pulley system to move half of their house into alignment with a trailer. When in place, it will be raised by jacks and moved onto the tractor-trailer rig.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Sara Klinetob of the Penn State team takes a break in her dismantling duties. Pleased with their very close fourth place finish their first time out, she and other members of the team are already thinking about a 2009 rematch!
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
October 23, 2007
Only the familiar bright yellow mechanical core of Team Montréal's house remains to be moved.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The Georgia Tech house is neatly wrapped for shipment...now where's the nearest overnight delivery drop off?
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The lonely core of the MIT house is about to get a lift and head back home to Massachusetts.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
The Cornell house is lifted on blocks and waiting for a transfer to a tractor-trailer.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
Part of the Universidad de Puerto Rico house waits in line on the Mall with several others, ready for the road.
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)
(Credit: David Hicks/Solar Decathlon)