Solar Powered Kiwi Bach on Display

The southern hemisphere has decided to join in the party in a big way. Callie and I were out for a stroll to enjoy an appropriately blustery day on the waterfront and saw people queueing up. What for? Other people seemed intrigued and you know what they say about curiosity....it helps you learn new something new!

Turns out that Victoria University with the support of more than 37 sponsors are sending the first house from the southern hemisphere to the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. For those unfamiliar with this event (myself included) according to the board out in front of the home "every two years the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges 20 universities to design, build and operate energy-efficient homes powered exclusively by the sun."

Much better pictures and descriptions can be found at their official website here. Solar Decathalon has been a big part of my extended family, as Jason, my brother-in-law spent several years deeply involved in the same event while he was a grad student at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. You can see his gorgeous home here (it seems to Callie that this NZ house may have "borrowed" some architectural inspiration from Jason's home). Regardless, it's exciting to see this country looking to expand its realm of innovation and getting representation on an international stage, even if they are displaying a traditional kiwi beach holiday home!