Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C.

AIA West Jersey Tour Group - Team New Jersey Solar Decathlon Zero Energy Home

2011 AIA West Jersey Fall Trip to the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C.

AIA West Jersey hosted a trip to the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, DC on Saturday October 1st. Twenty AIA members from West Jersey, South, Shore and Newark/Suburban along with five spouses made the trip to the site of this year’s U S Dept. of Energy 2011 Solar Decathlon. It is an award winning program that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar powered houses. The winner of the competition is the one that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. This year’s overall winner was the University of Maryland. Each structure, between 600 – 1000 square feet, was required to be transported for assembly to Washington, DC. Although the weather did not completely cooperate with rain, and wind temperatures in the 50’s it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the group and AIA West Jersey is hoping to repeat the trip to the 2013 Solar Decathlon. Congratulations to Team New Jersey and the students at NJIT on their Zero Energy Home design being showcased at the 2011 Solar Decathlon!