Solar Decathlon on the National Mall, Washington, D.C. - 2002

This collection features photos from the 2002 Solar Decathlon, an international competition in which university students compete to design, build, and operate the most effective and efficient solar-powered house. From September 26 to October 6, 2002, on The National Mall in Washington, D.C., 14 student teams worked to capture, convert, store, and use enough solar energy to power our modern lifestyle. The solar decathletes supplied all the energy to run a household, a home-based business, and a solar car. During the event, only the solar energy available within the perimeter of each house was used to generate the power needed to compete in the ten Solar Decathlon contests.

#11977 - If you build it, they will come! Throngs of visitors descended on the Solar Village, eager to take a peek in the homes and learn from the students. Visitors participated in the public tours hosted by the decathletes, with some visitors waiting in line for 20 -30 minutes just to step inside the homes!

#11701 - Students had to rebuild their houses on the Mall. Chris Jackson of Auburn University is hard at work. The team's house features beams made from recycled materials.

#11853 - University of Virginia took 1st Place in the Design and Livability competition. A jury of architects judged design, innovation, and aesthetics. The challenge of this contest was to successfully integrate and synthesize design and solar energy and energy efficiency technologies into a livable and delightful domestic environment.

#11852 - CU Students standing on their porch with Congressman Mark Udall. The University of Colorado at Boulder and Crowder College tied for first place in the Engineering Design competition. This house also took 1st place in the over-all competition.

#11750 - The University of Puerto Rico team's fundamental design is based on the use of passive technologies. The students believe that it's also important to achieve a very efficient spatial solution that feels comfortable and looks attractive. They wanted to design a house that goes beyond merely incorporating existing solar energy technologies—a house that can actually influence lifestyles and make an impact on the way we humans understand and relate to our space, our planet, and our sun. This house took 2nd Place, Design and Livability contest.

#11725 - This photo shows and the kitchen of the University of Missouri — Rolla house.

#11887 - National Technology Day and media event: Local elementary school students check out one of the interactive displays in the Solar Village.

#11682 - The Crowder College team is also almost ready for the public. Team members have almost finished installing the hot tub, and they also worked on their landscaping. It's starting to look like home.

#11836 - Throughout the day, many of the houses are closed periodically for testing or temperature/humidity control, so students talk about their technologies and experience with visitors outside. Here, a visitor peers into the Colorado University house.

#11859 - The sun, the sole source of power for this competition, sets on the village, marking the end of another day of competition.

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