Big City traveler and the Solar Decathalon

At 2 and a half months of age, Eliza has traveled more than some adults I know. She flew 4.5 hours on a plane to Utah at 3 weeks old. A couple of weeks ago, she went to Washington D.C. and stayed in her first hotel - the Doubletree. Since then, she has been to all over Maryland. (We got lost going to my cousin's baseball game)

Here she is on the king size bed.



Our friends, Jason and Kara Wheeler took a whirlwind tour of the east coast, and stopped by to see us on Tuesday, September 27th. Unfortunately, their stay was mighty short. We did get in the essentials, Cities and Knights, and a run for Jason and Bruce, a walk for Kara, Eliza, and I. On Wednesday afternoon, they left for DC to attend the Solar Decathlon Thursday afternoon.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams 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. (Taken from their website)
Bruce, Eliza, and I drove down later that evening through a severe thunderstorm, and met them at the solar decathlon.

We took a shuttle bus from our hotel to the metro station. We rode the metro to the Washington Mall, then got on another shuttle bus to take us to the Solar Decathlon at West Potomac Park. It actually wasn't as complicated as it sounds once we figured out how to obtain a metro ticket.

Here is Eliza on the metro


I don't know a whole lot about solar energy or architecture, but I do know that anyone who can make an entire house run on solar energy is a genius. I liked the New Zealand house the best.


It seems practical and very comfortable. The New Zealand and U of I house are the only houses I saw that I felt comfortable enough to live in. I especially liked the hidden sleeping room for an extra 5 people. Talk about a space saver. I liked the cultural adaptation New Zealand added to their house as well. If their climate is really as temperate as they claimed, I should have moved to New Zealand years ago. :)


Coming out of the University of Illinois house.

Although each house had the same goals and restrictions, I was amazed at the variety of designs I saw. Eliza on the other hand, didn't find the houses that amazing.


All the traveling and the bright sun wore her out. This is all she had to say about it.


Although, by the looks of it, something must have made an impression on her.


Overall, I thought the Solar Decathlon was pretty impressive. I regret that we didn't have time to see all of the houses. For as many people as they had in attendance, it's too bad the houses aren't open longer. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our friends from Illinois who now live in Utah.
Come again Kara and Jason. Eliza misses you already. (Also, thanks for the photo's I snagged from you. You're better at taking pictures than I am anyway.)


We made a quick stop over to the temple before we headed home.