The Solar Decathlon was just held in Washington DC.
Twenty teams competed this year and the event was sponsored by the US Department of Energy.
The competion is open to all and is related to the International Solar Car Challenge.
The goal is to try and design the most energy efficient, environmentally designed and sustainable solar powered home possible.
Twenty teams competed this year.
All were American except for two from Canada, Spain, Germany and Puerto Rico.
The 15 American teams are serious heavy hitters and extremely well funded.
Think USC and MIT.
The German Universities are state funded environmental experts and draw on their extensive integration with the EU.
And once again they won first place.
Having said all that the Canadians came in 4th and 6th.
Which is a superb result.
Hats off to the two Canadian teams.
Team Ontario/British Columbia came in 4th and considering who they were up against is a great result.
Team Alberta came in 6th and considering the U of A chose not to involve itself at all shows that a little guy can indeed compete on an international level.
A word about funding.
Team Germany was heavily funded by the German State and drew on EU resources and experience.
The funding involved in supporting the big league American teams goes without saying.
Team Ontario/BC was reputedly funded to the tune of slightly into the six figures by Ontario.
Team Alberta got $5,000 from the Province of Alberta.
Five stinking thou.
Thats flat pathetic.
Thank God for private donations.
And hats off once again to the Alberta team with their HUGE five thousand dollar vote of confidence from Ed (the Turnip) Stelmach and the down home gang.
The competion:U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon Home Page
Trex
Twenty teams competed this year and the event was sponsored by the US Department of Energy.
The competion is open to all and is related to the International Solar Car Challenge.
The goal is to try and design the most energy efficient, environmentally designed and sustainable solar powered home possible.
Twenty teams competed this year.
All were American except for two from Canada, Spain, Germany and Puerto Rico.
The 15 American teams are serious heavy hitters and extremely well funded.
Think USC and MIT.
The German Universities are state funded environmental experts and draw on their extensive integration with the EU.
And once again they won first place.
Having said all that the Canadians came in 4th and 6th.
Which is a superb result.
Hats off to the two Canadian teams.
Team Ontario/British Columbia came in 4th and considering who they were up against is a great result.
Team Alberta came in 6th and considering the U of A chose not to involve itself at all shows that a little guy can indeed compete on an international level.
A word about funding.
Team Germany was heavily funded by the German State and drew on EU resources and experience.
The funding involved in supporting the big league American teams goes without saying.
Team Ontario/BC was reputedly funded to the tune of slightly into the six figures by Ontario.
Team Alberta got $5,000 from the Province of Alberta.
Five stinking thou.
Thats flat pathetic.
Thank God for private donations.
And hats off once again to the Alberta team with their HUGE five thousand dollar vote of confidence from Ed (the Turnip) Stelmach and the down home gang.
The competion:U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon Home Page
Trex
