October 4, 2005, Washington, DC--Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman will inaugurate the 2005 Solar Decathlon on October 6, 2005, at 10:00 a.m., with a welcome address to the 18 competing teams from the U.S, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Spain, followed by a ribbon-cutting to open the Solar Village.
The Solar Decathlon brings together cutting-edge architecture, engineering, and technology in solar-powered homes that generate as much, or more, energy than they consume. The homes depend on photovoltaic (PV) cells for their electrical power; the Decathlon is a showcase for the latest in PV and energy-storage technology. University teams will compete to determine who has built the house that best blends aesthetics and modern conveniences with maximum energy production and optimal efficiency.
Held at the National Mall, the competition will run from October 6 through 14. The Solar Village will be open to the public October 6 through 16. However, on October 12, tours of the houses will be closed due to competition requirements.
Joining Secretary Bodman will be Douglas Faulkner, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Norman Koonce, executive vice president/CEO, American Institute of Architects; David Pressly, 2005 first vice president, National Association of Home Builders; Lee Edward, chief executive officer, BP Solar; Bob Baskerville, president, DIY Network; Kathy Walker, executive vice president of network services, Sprint Nextel; and Dr. Stanley R. Bull, science and technology associate director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory.