Collegiate teams featuring over 4,000 students from around the world have descended on the National Mall's West Potomac Park to showcase the highly energy efficient solar-powered houses they created for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. Today's opening ceremony kicks off the biennial competition that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate houses powered by the sun that are affordable, energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in.

"The Solar Decathlon collegiate teams are showing how clean energy products and efficient building design can help families and businesses reduce energy use and save money," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The event challenges talented students to become pioneers of clean energy technology and helps ensure that our nation remains competitive in the workforce of tomorrow."

In addition to educating the public about how to save energy and save money, the Solar Decathlon also provides unique training to the next generation of engineers and architects. Over the last decade, the competition has prepared approximately 15,000 students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs in clean energy technology and efficient building design.

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The University of Chicago (IL) collected seven bags of compost during the recent Facilities Services Annual Picnic. By introducing composting bins for the first time, the event recycled or composted all waste with the exception of ice cream wrappers and potato chip bags...

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The wind turbine recently installed at Copper Mountain College is just another notch in the belt for the trailblazing chief of campus facilities, Dan Cain. Cain has nurtured a series of green building projects to benefit not only the school’s energy efficiency, but also the Morongo Basin’s job market...

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The event was not only for gifted students or science brainiacs, said Alka Tyle, a school board member and chairwoman of the STEM-204 Group. It was meant to give students some inspiration for upcoming science fairs or to begin seeing the fun in science...

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The University of Illinois at Chicago has reopened Douglas Hall after a one-year, $11.7 million renovation that will seek LEED Gold certification. Now home to the College of Business Administration, the building features geothermal wells, solar panels, automated interior lights, water savers and automated cooling/heating. The project was funded by student fees and gifts from individual and corporate donors...

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