Solar Decathlon, Now with Extra Carbon Emissions!

‘surPLUShome’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

The City Paper’s Lydia DePillis broke the news early this morning that the Solar Decathlon, usually held on the National Mall near the Smithsonian Castle, is moving down to the National Harbor. The change in venue will certainly affect the attendance of the event, which always felt to me to be more discovery-by-accident than “Hey, let’s go see the solar houses!” Add in that the only way to get there by public transit is a bus that runs just twice an hour from the Branch Ave metro, and you’ve got a recipe for hiding this great event from the public eye.

Way to go, Department of Energy and Interior, that was some bang-up thinking so your event planner could get a few more rewards points from the Gaylord hotel chain.

Tom Bridge

I live and work in the District of Columbia. I write at We Love DC, a blog I helped start, I work at Technolutionary, a company I helped start, and I’m happy doing both. I enjoy watching baseball, cooking, and gardening. I grow a mean pepper, keep a clean scorebook, and wash the dishes when I’m done. Read Why I Love DC.

6 thoughts on “Solar Decathlon, Now with Extra Carbon Emissions!”

It’s not the DoE’s fault; the National Park Service told them they couldn’t use the Mall this year.

Surely they could’ve set up at any of the following locations in DC:

1) RFK Stadium
2) Half Street/Yards Park near Nationals Park
3) The Ellipse
4) Lower Senate Park
5) Farragut Square & McPherson Square
6) F Street near Verizon Center

So, while the Mall might’ve been unavailable, it’s hardly the only spot in town that could host such an event…

In trying to find a silver lining, let me say that this event, when it’s on The Mall, is an audience of choirs from the same church so to speak.

Holding it at National Harbor will reach the visiting family from Suburbia who has a car for each of their children and, well, you get the picture. These types are the ones who need it the most.

Having said that, they need to bring it back to The Mall for 2012.

National Harbor will be a fresh new venue for the Solar Decathlon. It is easy access for the entire metro area and after a visit to see these incredible solar homes, guests will be able to enjoy the waterfront and take in some great restaurants. Change is good. Embrace it!

Good point RV, although methinks if RV stands for Recreation Vehicle, you were poking fun at the situation :-)

But yes, the new Wilson Bridge has improved things dramatically, including the new bike path, and one could take the ferry over from Old Town too.

There is no good reason to take the Decathlon off the Mall, especially when they allow a 100,000 person book fair to take place over a weekend on the same dates that were formerly given to the Decathlon. The houses were designed for the Mall site; the sponsors who paid for the solar projects were told they’d be on the Mall;the contracts with the students provide for re-sodding of the Mall and any other repairs; 20 student teams from all over the world were invited almost two years ago and now we’ve kicked them off the Mall? American diplomacy?

John on February 9, 2011 at 9:05 am said:

It’s not the DoE’s fault; the National Park Service told them they couldn’t use the Mall this year.
Tom Bridge on February 9, 2011 at 9:11 am said:

Surely they could’ve set up at any of the following locations in DC:

1) RFK Stadium
2) Half Street/Yards Park near Nationals Park
3) The Ellipse
4) Lower Senate Park
5) Farragut Square & McPherson Square
6) F Street near Verizon Center

So, while the Mall might’ve been unavailable, it’s hardly the only spot in town that could host such an event…
Jay on February 9, 2011 at 10:34 am said:

In trying to find a silver lining, let me say that this event, when it’s on The Mall, is an audience of choirs from the same church so to speak.

Holding it at National Harbor will reach the visiting family from Suburbia who has a car for each of their children and, well, you get the picture. These types are the ones who need it the most.

Having said that, they need to bring it back to The Mall for 2012.
RV on February 9, 2011 at 1:55 pm said:

National Harbor will be a fresh new venue for the Solar Decathlon. It is easy access for the entire metro area and after a visit to see these incredible solar homes, guests will be able to enjoy the waterfront and take in some great restaurants. Change is good. Embrace it!
Jay on February 9, 2011 at 2:53 pm said:

Good point RV, although methinks if RV stands for Recreation Vehicle, you were poking fun at the situation :-)

But yes, the new Wilson Bridge has improved things dramatically, including the new bike path, and one could take the ferry over from Old Town too.
Carolyn on February 10, 2011 at 12:33 am said:

There is no good reason to take the Decathlon off the Mall, especially when they allow a 100,000 person book fair to take place over a weekend on the same dates that were formerly given to the Decathlon. The houses were designed for the Mall site; the sponsors who paid for the solar projects were told they’d be on the Mall;the contracts with the students provide for re-sodding of the Mall and any other repairs; 20 student teams from all over the world were invited almost two years ago and now we’ve kicked them off the Mall? American diplomacy?