Falls Church Opts to Promote Solar Decathlon

It was back in 2002 when the U.S. Department of Energy held its first Solar Decathlon, challenging collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

The event continued biennially in 2005, 2007, and 2009, with the fifth scheduled for Sept. 23–Oct. 2 at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.

"The event involves 20 collegiate teams who submit a design and it has to be powered by solar energy and meet certain science specifications," said Tim Stevens, a member of the City of Fall Church's environmental services council, who is involved as a volunteer in the event. "There are 10 different categories in which they get points people can learn how energy-saving features can help them save money."

The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

This year, the Commonwealth of Virginia is represented by Team Tidewater, which is comprised of some of the most promising Old Dominion University and Hampton University architecture and engineering students.

Its "Unit 6 Unplugged" entry is a modular house that blends seamlessly into a historic center-city neighborhood, conceived of as part of a larger, six-unit multifamily building. By sharing infrastructure costs between units of the building, this energy efficient house is made more affordable.

"It's really inspirational to see the students who are very much involved," Stevens said. "They are there giving people tours and are eager to tell you about all the things they put together to make the houses really unique."

The University of Maryland also has a team and its entry, "WaterShed," proposes solutions to water and energy shortages. The house is a model of how the built environment can help preserve watersheds everywhere by managing storm water onsite, filtering pollutants from greywater, and minimizing water use.

"City residents have participated in the Decathlon in the past, but we are promoting it this year, given the focus on community energy planning," said Brenda Creel, director of Public Works who coordinates Fall Church's energy programs. "We wanted to take this opportunity for education on the subject for renewable energy efficiency available to our residents and highlight that."

The Solar Decathlon demonstrates to the public the opportunities presented by cost-effective houses that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems that are available today.

In conjunction with the Solar Decathlon, the City of Falls Church will be launching a community energy planning task force in the next few months.

"They will be tasked to develop energy efficiency targets as well as green house gas emissions reduction strategies and strategies for the community to improve those," Creel said. "We're very excited about that opportunity and work that will begin shortly."

Creel encourages people to attend the Decathlon to support the students but to also learn about ways that everyone get help in energy savings.

"We encourage people to attend so you can get ideas on better ways to heat your water, insulate your house, the type of windows to use," she said. "There are a number of different components including design that people use and people in Falls Church can get ideas to improve the energy in their house."

For more information on the Solar Decathlon, visit www.solardecathlon.gov