A cold, rainy day on the DC Mall, perhaps not the most appropriate atmosphere to tour the solar decathlon, but rain was the only option available this week.
We viewed individual homes designed to showcase solar innovations such as a rheostatically controlled passive window shade, recycled-plastic, water-filled thermal cells, and a kitchie solar popcorn popper. Design elements included the gracefully named butterfly roof, which collects rainwater (it demonstrated its function effectively) and the plastic, jetson's style ceiling treatment (that would be a serious dust collector and excellent haunted house element in a few short months).
The 10 Solar Decathlon Contests for 2009:
- Architecture — 100 points (subjective)
- Market Viability — 100 points (subjective)
- Engineering — 100 points (subjective)
- Lighting Design — 75 points (subjective)
- Communications — 75 points (subjective)
- Comfort Zone — 100 points (objective)
- Hot Water — 100 points (objective)
- Appliances — 100 points (objective)
- Home Entertainment — 100 points (objective)
- Net Metering — 150 points (objective)
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