The Solar Decathlon is an international collegiate competition where 20 student teams design, build, and showcase small, energy-efficient, solar-powered homes on the Washington Mall for two weeks... Show moreThe Solar Decathlon is an international collegiate competition where 20 student teams design, build, and showcase small, energy-efficient, solar-powered homes on the Washington Mall for two weeks every other year. The houses, unconnected to any central power, sewage, or plumbing lines, must fully accommodate the equivalent of a “typical American family” for the duration of the competition. The Request for Proposal for the 2011 Solar Decathlon will be released at the conclusion of the October 2009 event. The teams selected for the competition will be awarded $100,000 over two years to aid in construction costs and support the Solar Decathlon's research goal of reducing the cost of solarpowered homes and advancing solar technology. Show less
