Combining aesthetics, sustainability, and function is the challenge of green architecture-and 20 teams of college students from North America and Europe brilliantly rise to that challenge as they compete to design, build, and demonstrate the operation of the most attractive and energy-efficient house at the 2007 Solar Decathlon held in Washington, D.C. This program tracks the teams from the University of Maryland, MIT, The University of Texas at Austin, and Lawrence Technological University as they seek out corporate sponsors, research available materials, and hone their construction skills to create appealing living spaces that require zero energy.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on July 28, 2008. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

A Solar Energy Home Building Contest (3:00) -- Solar Decathlon: Student Visions for Building Green Homes (3:32) -- Energy Efficient Building Materials (2:21) -- Old and New Technology in Solar Home Design (1:57) -- Photovoltaic Panels in Solar Home Design (2:15) -- Climate Control Systems in Solar Powered Homes (3:15) -- Architects and Engineers Cooperate to Develop Green Innovations (3:30) -- Maintaining Temperature and Humidity in Solar Homes (1:47) -- Functionality in Solar Powered Home Design (3:28) -- Market Viability of Solar Powered Homes (1:48) -- Legacy of Solar Decathlon Model Homes (3:02).