Here's to Sunny Skies Again

While we're lucky not to have the snow that northern climates have been getting already, it's been pretty drab and dreary in D.C. the past couple of days and we're excited that the sun's out again! It's even more exciting because the power's back on!

No, not the regular electricity, that never went out. I'm talking about the solar-powered models that have been built on the National Mall! The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathalon just announced its winners of a competition to design and build the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. (Team Germany was the winner, by the way).

The twenty models in the competition were available for locals, tourists, and green-architecture buffs to admire on the Mall for the past two weeks. In case you didn't make it there yourself, click here to take a look at a few of the entries (courtesy of the DCist blog).

And here is Team Germany's short video clip of their winning project:

Now, as you probably know, FCNL has a green building - and not just any green building, but the first green building on Capitol Hill. If you're in the area, feel free to stop by for a tour! In addition, if you go to our website, you can even see the live webcast of our green roof - in case you have the time to sit and watch the grass grow. We're honored to be briefly joined by these twenty models of zero-energy construction.

Legislation on climate change is making its way through Congress, but there are plenty of steps that can be taken even without the passage of new bills. The Solar Decathalon is just the most recent of many examples of how you can make changes, both small and large, to make your home more energy-efficient and reduce your carbon footprint.

Good thing it's sunny outside!

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