The Solar Decathlon is underway at the National Mall from now until October 20th and Virginia Tech, with help from Siemens corporation is looking to take home the top prize or at least one of the ten prizes for architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort, appliances, water heating, lighting, home entertainment, and net metering.

One of 20 entries from schools throughout the U.S. and Europe, LUMENHAUS combines open flowing spaces with sustainable responsive architecture that includes the use of passive solar energy systems as well as radiant heating and building materials that are from renewable and/or recyclable sources. LUMENHAUS is a zero energy home powered completely by the sun.

According to Jack Davis, Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies, "LUMENHAUS is a living laboratory. For students, this is an opportunity for the hands-on application of what they learn in the classroom and carry it fourth into their careers. Virginia Tech's entry is funded entirely from external contributors, including the DOE and companies like Siemens, and we wouldn't be here without their help and support."

For their part Siemens provided mentoring by engineer John Hamilton to help guide architect/engineering and computer technology students during both the design and construction phases of the project.

This will mark the third time that Virginia Tech has entered the Solar Decathlon and this may be their strongest entry yet. Regardless of their finish they have provided a fantastic example of the possibilities that exist for zero energy homes in the future.

photo by Suntech

The Solar Energy Industries Association, a representation of the U.S. and foreign solar industry, is crying foul over a decision by U.S. Customs officials to impose a tariff of 2.5 % on solar panel imports.  Customs has decided that most solar panel imports now qualify as generators due to the presence of bypass diodes in the panels themselves.  Worse yet, the decision is retroactive and companies that are delinquent may have to pay double the tariff. The total cost to the industry may be $70 million this year alone. 

Whether or not this is the true reason for the tariff is up for debate.  What is clear is that this move sends a strong signal to countries that are looking to dominate the fledgling U.S. solar industry, such as China and may result in retribution in the form of higher tariffs on U.S. energy exports. 

The timing of this decision is unwelcome to global solar manufacturers who have an abundance of oversupply on their hands due to the global economic crisis.  So far this year prices in the solar panel market have dropped almost 20%. 

This change in policy may counteract to some degree the protectionist policies of the Chinese government which provides Chinese solar manufacturers an unlevel playing field.  The Chinese government offers massive subsidies to it's domestic solar manufacturers even providing 100% financing in addition to low corporate tax rates. 

While I commend the U.S. Customs Department for this tougher stand on foreign solar panel imports, it doesn't go far enough to providing legitimate competition between U.S. solar companies and Chinese manufacturers.  It is unfortunate that many legitimate global manufacturers will feel the sting of this increase.  For that reason I believe we need to take a more focused approach to trade policy in this industry and provide a much higher tariff to countries such as China that not only engage in protectionist policies but also artificially set currency rates.  Don't hamper the ability of U.S. manufacturers to be a player in the global solar market while punishing those countries that don't want to engage in open competition.