I’m not a big fan of the whole “going green” movement. I drive an SUV. I run my AC full tilt in the summer and I love relaxing in my hot tub on cool evenings. I do however like the idea of finding other alternative energy sources, especially if they keep the cost of living down. The BP Solar Decathlon is trying to do just that. Twenty teams, made up of university students from around the world are working to develop a livable, every-efficient, and completely solar-powered house. I think this could be cool.

Solar panels are already working to power laptops, heat water, recharge lights in remote villages. Its entirely possible and very 22nd century, that the future of roofs includes massive solar panels. The improvements in Solar power have been great in the last years, driving the size down and making them more efficient, I don’t see why we wouldn’t be seeing more development in this area. How very George Jetson it would be to have your house powered by the sun one day, don’t you think?

Whats even cooler than the contest itself is that you can visit the BP Solar Decathlon Blog and check in on how the teams are doing. Its pretty cool to see the stuff they’ve come up with and the directions their taking. It does lead me to wonder if they have to trade out some of the current luxuries in order to save power.