Nine countries compete in Spanish Solar Decathlon to find the best in solar design

(2009 Solar Decathlon Europe.)

Solar Decathlon, June 18-27, involves 17 teams and nine different countries in a competition to find the best in solar housing design; vote for your favorite house online.

Solar Decathlon is a weeklong competition to see which team can build the most efficient 75 square meter solar-powered and ecologically friendly house. This year's event is being held in Madrid, Spain, the first time it has been held in Europe. The project was started in 2002 by the US department of energy and, will in the future, be held in Spain and the US on alternate years.

The competition is open to universities around the world but only a limited number of entries are accepted. This year, the completion is between 17 teams from nine different countries, China, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico and the USA.

Judges score each house against ten criteria including architecture, engineering, solar systems, electrical energy balance, comfort, appliances and innovation, the points are then added up and the team with the highest total is declared the winner.  The exhibition is free to visit and you can vote for your favorite house of the future online at http://www.sdeurope.org/index.htm .

The winner, by judges decision, will be announced on June 27.