Solar-Powered Houses

Every two years, select groups of college students are invited to Washington, DC to compete in the Solar Decathlon. The US Department of Energy gives each team $100,000 and a daunting challenge: design, build, and operate energy-efficient, fully solar-powered homes on the National Mall. Of course, it takes more than $100,000 to build these wonder houses, so the teams must raise additional funds on their own.

Out of 40 contestants, 20 teams were selected to participate in the 2009 Solar Decathlon. The teams represented universities in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Germany. Over the course of several weeks, the students assembled houses that showcased new solutions to energy-efficient design. Each house presented very different approaches. Here are photos and close-up views.