One of my best friends, LWs, has been diligently working very hard for a high-profile client. That high-profile client just happens to be U.S. Department of Energy - she is specifically working on The Solar Decathlon happening right now at the National Mall in Washington, DC. If you do go, tell her I sent you - she's the gorgeous blond that's in charge, will most likely have a lanyard around her neck.

The Solar Decathlon, for those of you who do not know what it is, "joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house". It is open to the public so we can all enjoy the great home designs, but more importantly how green the designs are.

The Solar Decathlon houses will be open for public tours 11 a.m.­–3 p.m. Monday–Friday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Note that all homes will be closed Wed., Oct. 14. The weather this weekend should be great for checking out the Solar Village, but if you can't make it, check out their daily photos.

{Photo Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon}


{Photo Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon}
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu poses for a photo with Team California in front of its solar-powered house during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Oct. 07, 2009.



{Photo Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon}
A solar-powered toy operates in front of the house of Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, while people take a first look inside on the opening day of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Oct. 08, 2009.



{Photo Credit: Richard King/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon}
Illinois' tidy lot mirrors its clean structural design.



{Photo Credit: Richard King/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon}
An aerial view of the solar village from the east end, looking west toward the Washington Monument, provides a new perspective. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Team Missouri houses are on the right.



{Photo Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon}
Sun screens, right, and a gray water filtration system, bottom, reflect the sun off the solar-powered Virginia Tech house during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Monday, Oct. 05, 2009.