The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon kicked off on Wednesday in California, where collegiate teams involving hundreds of students from around the world compete in designing, building and operating solar-powered homes that are affordable, energy efficient, attractive and easy to live in. The popular challenge, however, was overshadowed by staff cuts at NREL, which has helped organize the biennial event since its inception in 2002. Taking place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California, this year's Solar Decathlon brings together hundreds of students and 14 teams from universities in the United States, Germany, Honduras, Italy and Panama. Over the next nine days, they will compete in 10 contests that gauge each house's performance, livability and affordability. The affordability contest rewards teams that build houses with estimated costs at or below $250,000. The teams will have to perform a variety of everyday tasks, including ...Den vollständigen Artikel lesen ...