GERMANY WINS SOLAR DECATHLON

Germany Takes Top Honors in Solar Decathlon
Elizabeth Razzi, October 16, 2009 (Washington Post)

"Team Germany--led by students from Technische Universitat Darmstadt--won top overall honors in the 2009 Solar Decathlon, the Department of Energy announced…

"Second place, overall, went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and third place went to Team California, which was a partnership of Santa Clara University and California College of the Arts…"

From Americagov via YouTube

"This is the second straight time that a German team won the overall prize. According to DOE, the team's "Cube House" design--which was covered on all sides by shiny, black solar panels--produced a surplus of electricity even during three days of rain. The ability to feed the most solar-generated electricity back into Pepco's electric grid was the most heavily weighted challenge of the 10 categories that made up the this year's decathlon.

"Team Germany earned 908.29 points out of a possible 1,000 in the overall competition. U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign earned 897.30, and Team California earned 863.08 points…"

From Americagov via YouTube

[Winners in other categories:]"…APPLIANCES: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign…ARCHITECTURE: Team California…COMFORT ZONE: (indoor temp and humidity) Team Germany…COMMUNICATIONS: (Web site, tours, etc.) Team California…ENGINEERING: (energy systems design, efficiency, innovation and reliability) University of Minnesota…"

[Winners in other categories:]"…HOME ENTERTAINMENT:(powering TV & computer, cooking, hosting guests) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
HOT WATER: (15 gallons delivered in 10 minutes or less) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign…LIGHTING DESIGN: University of Minnesota…MARKET VIABILITY: (Cost-effective construction and technology; market appeal) University of Louisiana at Lafayette…NET METERING: Team Germany."