Finishing line looms for US Solar Decathlon finalists

Teams from 20 universities around the world are competing to design and build solar powered houses in an event organised by the US Department of Energy (DoE).

The latest event to be completed in the Solar Decathlon, as the event is known, is the communication section where entrants had to design ways to promote their solar powered facilities. Team California won the section thanks to an innovative web site, according to the event's judges.

“Team California constructed an easy-to-navigate web site with a user-friendly home page, which encourages further site exploration,” said communications juror Jamie Van Mourik, who is with the US Green Building Council. “It is evident by their elaborate signage and ability to manage crowd flow, their communications plan was well though out, offering a solid analysis to maximise educational opportunities.”

Teams from the US, Canada, Germany and Spain are competing in the DoE’s fourth Solar Decathlon which involves 10 sections testing the team's ability on issues such as architecture, market viability and comfort. Teams will be measured on their ability to balance energy efficiency with other considerations such as heating and cooling, hot water, home entertainment, lighting and appliances.

The winner of the next stage of the competition is due to be announced on Thursday with the overall winner due to be crowned on Friday.

Earlier this week a team of MIT graduates claimed to have worked out a way for buildings to enjoy white surfaces in the summer, before switching to darker surfaces in the winter when buildings typically need to maximise the sun's heat. According to the university, a team of recent graduates have developed a new tile that changes colour as the temperature changes, producing a white surface when hot and a black surface when it is cold.

In July, UK business secretary Lord Mandelson announced that universities are uniquely positioned when it comes to leading the charge for aggressive climate change targets.

"Universities can play a vital role in our economic recovery, especially in advancing a strategy for real and lasting change in order to reduce our carbon footprint," said Mandelson.

Mandelson's comments were part of a consultation announced by the Higher Education Funding Council For England, Universites UK and GuildHE to develop a strategy for carbon reduction across the UK's universities and higher eduction establishments.