Let the Games Begin!

With these words, and backed by 450 competing solar decathletes from five countries, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu officially opened the 2009 Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington DC.  (Before he could wield the mammoth scissors, however, he had to shake hands with, and be photographed with, all 450 of them.  That's energy).

Secretary Chu is finally in a position to promote and steer policies that could actualize ideas that he and his colleagues at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. developed many years ago.  He spoke today of their investigation of the potential savings to be had in the heating and cooling of buildings.  Their conclusions included the astonishing estimate that residential and commercial buildings could use 75-80% less energy than they then did, simply by focusing on energy efficiency.  And indicating the solar houses stretching away down Decathlete Way behind him, he reminded his audience that even without the use of solar power, these buildings enshrined many of the principles that kind of saving required.

Chu's point, of course, was that energy efficiency is every bit as important as renewable energy production.  It's a point that visitors to the increasingly popular Solar Decathlon will see in a different way in each of the twenty houses on show, e.g:

• Building optimization systems that regulate domestic power use;
• Triple-paned floor-to-ceiling windows that let sunlight in during daylight hours, then, due to the aerogel between the panes, continue to release heat into the living space after sundown;
• Walls built from 35% recycled materials filled with six inches of spray insulation made from canola seeds (making them not only sustainable but potentially tasty).

During his address, Secretary Chu also took the opportunity to announce that up to $87 million would be made available to support the development of new solar energy technologies and the rapid deployment of available carbon-free solar energy systems.  Of this funding, $50 million would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The money would flow to some 47 projects at universities, utilities, DOE's labs and local governments.*

"Today's awards are among the many investments made to create new jobs and a clean energy future with solar power," said Chu. "The projects will help accelerate the use of solar energy by residents, businesses and communities, and promote the long-term viability of solar energy by investing in the technologies of the future.  I applaud each of these award winners who are vital to moving our country towards a sustainable solar infrastructure."

After severing the blue ribbon with a single mighty snip, Secretary Chu toured the solar houses, some of which were still being frantically prepared by students for the first public day tomorrow.  (If you're within 500 miles of our nation's capital, it will be worth your while to make your own tour before the event finishes on October 18th).

*More information on the DOE funding can be found here.

Richard King, 'godfather' of the Solar Decathlon, surrounded by some of the competing teams