To stimulate the use of new energy technologies, the U.S. Department of Energy sponsors the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall. In this competition, university teams were challenged to design, build, and operate an energy-efficient and aesthetically-pleasing home powered by solar energy alone. Santa Clara University (SCU) was selected as one of just 20 international competitors in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, and was the only school west of the Rockies chosen to compete. Even more impressive is that Santa Clara, a school of approximately 4,500 students, is competing against schools like MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgia Tech, making them by far the smallest school in the Decathlon and the only competitor without a school or department of architecture. It was my great pleasure to meet the students from Santa Clara University’s Solar Decathlon Team and host a congressional briefing in the Capitol where the students shared their design, experiences, and most notably enthusiasm. Santa Clara’s home has a variety of unique features that are both sustainable and energy-efficient, including the first bamboo I-beams in the United States and insulation made from recycled blue jeans. A central computer automatically adjusts light-filtering film on windows, an absorption chiller turns solar-heated water into chilled water, and 48 batteries originally made for forklifts store the day's surplus energy and return it at night. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of the SCU Solar Decathlon Team and the generous support provided by their industrial sponsors. Their project highlights the technology and innovation characteristic of California’s15th District. James Bickford, a SCU student and the team’s project manager, explained to me that “it was challenging putting together a dynamic and intelligent group representing the many different disciplines required to build this solar house. Integrating each discipline’s perspective into one simple, livable, solar house design was critical.” It is apparent to me they have succeeded in meeting this challenge. Congratulations to Santa Clara University and the Solar Decathlon Team for representing the strengths of the Silicon Valley and the State of California in the 2007 Solar Decathlon! Updated: The results are in and.... Santa Clara University's entry won third place! They beat tough international competition, as well as specialized universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As the judges noted,

"This team wanted to build a sustainable solar house that is functional, elegant, and innovative—and they did just that. The Communications Jury lauded their friendly, enthusiastic house tour, which was informative, entertaining, and very much 'on target' for public audiences."

Representative Zoe Lofgren and I also offered our warm congratulations to the team in this statement in the Congressional Record.