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The Solar Decathlon brings together 18 teams of college and university students from around the globe to participate in this unparalleled solar competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home.

The teams transported their solar houses to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where they will form a solar village. The village and solar houses will be open to the public for self-guided tours from Oct. 7-16. The team houses will be closed to the public on October 12 for competition purposes. The teams compete in 10 contests to determine an overall winner, which will be announced at 2 p.m. on October 14. See the competition schedule for detailed information.

Using only energy from the sun, the teams generate enough electricity to run a modern household. To keep up with the students and organizers' experiences, you can read the Solar Decathlog, an online diary of the 2005 Solar Decathlon. With an eye on energy efficiency, the students carefully chose the systems, products, and appliances used in their houses. A list of these items is available in the product directory.

Planning for the next Solar Decathlon, which will be held in 2007, has already begun. For more information, and to view the Request For Proposals, visit Solar Decathlon 2007.

The Solar Decathlon is a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in partnership with its National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Homebuilders, BP, the DIY Network, and Sprint.