University of Colorado Wins 2005 Solar Decathlon

[BR_Parkway]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=38061

Washington, DC The University of Colorado, Denver and Boulder, successfully defended their championship and took first place in Solar Decathlon 2005, which drew to a close this past weekend. Cornell University was the second place team, and California Polytechnic State University finished third.

The University of Colorado ended up with 853 points of a possible 1,100. Cornell University earned 826 points, and California Polytechnic State University finished with 809 points.

The 2005 Solar Decathlon pitted 18 collegiate teams from the U.S. including Puerto Rico, Canada and Spain, in a competition to design, build and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home. Students competed in 10 areas, ranging from architecture, livability and comfort to how well the homes provide energy for space heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, and appliances. Each house also had to produce enough "extra" power for an electric car.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/homes_gallery.html

edit to add gallery of homes link

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"To power a house day after day on sunlight is a technological accomplishment that many find hard to believe -- especially in cloudy weather," said Richard King, Department of Energy, and Director of the Solar Decathlon. "What these teams are proving out here is that solar energy really works and energy efficiency pays off. Considering the consequences of billions of people around the world burning finite fossil fuels at an ever-increasing rate, demonstrating technologies that can make a difference is significant.

[phantom power]

1. I find this kind of contest much more practical than "solar car" derbies.

I wish they had been scored on one other category: cost of construction.

I'd also be interested to see what the "maximum cloudy days" were, for each design. I like that they had to cope with weather as-is, but that doesn't represent all possible weather.