Hottest Houses of 2008 : Sleek, Sexy, Solar

Who says solar houses have to be ugly? Ever since the Solar Decathlon this fall, I've been taking a second look at energy-efficient, earth-friendly design. Sure, some of the student exhibits had the boxy look of a storage shed, but many were airy, bright, and downright elegant. Maybe, just maybe, the hottest new houses of 2008 will be heated (and cooled) by the sun.

• Photo Gallery: Prize-Winning Solar Houses
• CBS News Video: The Solar Decathlon

^{Oak louvers provide shading and privacy on this solar house designed by students from the Technishe Universitat Darmstadt. Photo courtesy Kaye Evans-Lutterodt / Solar Decathlon}