Solar Decathlon: energy we can live with

The Solar Decathlon is a competition to design, build and operate the most effective and attractive house powered solely by the Sun. The U.S. Department of Energy proudly sponsors the international competition for college level students. The competition is designed to showcase "energy we can live with", meaning solar and energy efficiency technologies that are not only viable today, but are also unobtrusive features of homes that fit gracefully into our modern lifestyles. Fourteen university teams from the U.S., including Puerto Rico, competed in the 2002 Solar Decathlon at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Construction of the solar village began on September 19/sup th/, 2002. Seven days later on September 26/sup th/, the Solar Decathlon began and ten days of intense competition followed. On Saturday, October 5/sup th/, the University of Colorado at Boulder won the first ever competition.