In the nation's capital, a village powered by the sun Video
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In the nation's capital, a village powered by the sun
The Solar Decathlon, a competition among 20 universities to build the best solar-powered house, opened last week at the National Mall in Washington. CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica talks with students, government officials and advisers about the market viability of solar energy, as well as the secrets to winning.
'Underdog' Santa Clara University competes in Solar Decathlon
Santa Clara University student Yasemin Kimyacioglu talks to Martin LaMonica from CNET News.com about the green features of the Mission style home her university entered into the Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C., a competition to build the best solar-powered house. It's the university's first entrance into the competition.
Seeding solar homes of the future
The Solar Decathlon, in which 20 universities build a solar-powered home, is a showcase for energy-efficient and solar technologies--some of which are available now, while others are invented for the event. Andy Karsner, the U.S. assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, says the competition is a way to educate both students competing in the event and the general public who can see the modular houses on the National Mall in Washington.
Solar Decathlon reigning champs look for repeat
The University of Colorado at Boulder has won the last two Solar Decathlon competitions, in which 20 universities build solar-powered homes and assemble them on the National Mall in Washington. This year, the University of Colorado team chose to focus on a highly modular and flexible design that could work for a range of settings, from cities to the suburbs. Student team leader Chad Corbin explains how Colorado Boulder intends to win again.
Solar power as cheap as fossil fuels?
Charlie Gay, general manager of Applied Materials' solar business, speaks to CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica about solar industry dynamics at the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. Gay, who has worked in the business for over 30 years, says large-scale manufacturing will bring down the price of solar electricity. Investments will result in incremental improvements in panel efficiency, rather than huge technology breakthroughs, he says.
The Green Show: Solar power 101
In this week's show, our green tech expert Martin LaMonica talks about solar power and we show a few devices powered by wind and water, as well as a cheap Netbook made from biodegradable materials.
Adobe sounds off on transition to Web apps
From the Max 2007 conference in Chicago: CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica talks with Adobe Chief Architect Kevin Lynch about the company's shift into Web applications.
Modular and green, the PowerPod seeks a home
CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica visits the first demo model of the PowerPod in an unlikely place--an old coal power plant in the industrial city of Lawrence, Mass. He takes a look at the flexible green home and gets some ideas on how it might be used.
What makes a smart, green building tick?
CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica goes inside a green building--Genzyme Center in Cambridge, Mass., where daylight is automatically beamed inside by heliostats and office workers have a constant stream of outside air.
Daily Debrief: Silicon Valley's clean-energy infatuation
Alternative energy, from solar to geothermal, is suddenly one of the hot buzzwords in Silicon Valley, where it's attracting lots of interest--and money. To find out why, tune in as Charles Cooper speaks with reporter Martin LaMonica on the CNET News Daily Debrief.
