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Archive for the ‘Environmental Topics’ Category
Construction has begun on Solar Decathlon’s solar village in Washington D.C. The 20 college and university teams have begun to assemble their solar homes for the competition to be held September 23 to October 2. The Solar Decathlon was first held in 2002 and has been held every other year since 2005. The challenge for the 20 selected teams is to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The solar village will be open:
- Weekday hours: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Weekend hours: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
This year’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition will be located at West Potomac Park in the National Mall,
which is situated between the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Potomac River. This is the preliminary school solar house location map for the competition. The event includes consumer demonstrations and workshops.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Monday, August 1, that the Department of Energy will consider change of venue offers for Solar Decathlon 2013. The Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. since 2002. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a competition that challenges collegiate students from across the globe to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. The purpose of the venue change solicitation is to encourage greater participation from other regions of the country.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams worldwide to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
Solar Decathlon 2011, the fifth of its kind, will take place at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., September 23 through October 2, 2011.
Many world-wide organizations are assisting in Japan in response to the devestating events of the past week. 
The American Red Cross is assisting the Japanese Red Cross in response to the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. Please visit the Red Cross website to see how you can help.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has teams in Japan working with local medical staff.
… the WILDERNESS WORKSHOP !
2011 Academy Awards
The Wilderness Workshop is a non-profit organization whose mission, as stated on their website, is to “protect and conserve the wilderness and natural resources of the Roaring Fork Watershed, the White River National Forest, and adjacent public lands”.
127 Hours is one of ten motion pictures nominated for Best Picture this year. At this writing, we don’t know the Best Picture winner at the Academy Award Ceremony. However, we do know that Aron Ralston and the Wilderness Workshop are winners.
Aron Ralston & James Franco. 127 Hours Premiere, Los Angeles
127 Hours is a mesmerizing film depicting Aron’s evolving realization that there was only one way to free himself and save his life. James Franco portrays Aron in the Oscar nominated movie 127 Hours. Mr. Franco is nominated in the Best Actor category and is the Oscar show’s co-host this year with Anne Hathaway.
Mr. Ralston recently participated in the the NBC Network show “Minute to Win It” and won $125,000. He chose to donate his substantial winnings to the Colorado-based environmental group – Wilderness Workshop. The staff didn’t know of Aron’s winnings until the show aired February 23rd, according to the Aspen Daily News. Mr. Ralston is a member of the Wilderness Workshop Board of Directors.
Congratulations to Aron and the Wilderness Workshop!