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Spring 2006

^{Robert Hubner}

For more than two years, a group of Washington State University students in architecture, construction management, interior design, and engineering designed and built a solar house, including all of its systems, from the ground up. In September 2005, they transported the house to Washington, D.C., to take part in the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition on the National Mall. WSU was one of only 18 schools from around the world—and the only school from the Northwest—to participate. Sponsored by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Lab, the competition required students to plan and build a 650-square-foot home and provide it with all the modern conveniences, including heating and air conditioning, refrigeration, hot water, lighting, appliances, and communications—powered entirely by the sun. As students did laundry, fixed dinners, and washed dishes in them, the houses were judged on their energy production, efficiency, and design.

The Solar Decathlon project tackles in a hands-on way the problem of energy use, which promises to be a major concern for today’s graduates. In the United States, most of the energy used to fuel our economy comes from non-renewable resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas. (The Northwest is fortunate in getting some of its energy needs substantially met from one renewable resource: hydroelectric.) As the problems encountered after Hurricane Katrina made clear, our transportation system and much of the economy is particularly dependent on the availability of cheap oil. Demand for energy and oil has continued to increase, especially as countries such as China work to become economic powerhouses. As U.S. oil production has declined, we have become increasingly dependent on foreign suppliers. Meanwhile, many experts warn that worldwide oil production may be reaching its peak.

In addition, the emission of carbon dioxide occasioned by the continual burning of fossil fuels to power our industries, heat our homes, and drive our cars has created concern about the possibility of human-caused climate change. With about 5 percent of the world’s population, the U.S. is responsible for 25 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, mass extinctions, and greater frequency and intensity of hurricanes are among the nightmare scenarios that scientists and their computer models predict.

By building a “village” of solar-powered homes on the National Mall, the Solar Decathlon competition aims to show that solar power could viably provide for at least some of our energy needs.

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Continued

^{Stefano Paltera/Solar Decathlon}

The Solar Decathlon tests performance in 10 contests and rewards balanced, all-around skills. Each team is judged on its solar home's architecture, livability, comfort, and ability to provide a consistent supply of electricity to run appliances, provide ample lighting, and charge an electric car. The homes must also be able to supply hot water for daily use. In addition to the design- and energy-related requirements of the competition, teams must also provide documentation about the development of the design of their homes and communicate about their homes to the public.

How did the WSU team fare?

Read on!