China Attends International Solar Decathlon（在线收听）

The International Solar Decathlon has concluded in the US Capital of Washington, after 19 teams from 5 countries competed using their own unique designs. A team of university students from China were also there. Here's Wei Tong has more.

China's Tongji University was the leading team to come from a developing country. They built a "Y-shaped House" to compete in the contest.

 
Hua Guodong is the candidate from Tongji University.

"We put 6 old containers together to build a new house in order to decrease the cost. We got them from the quay in Shanghai. We found a way to use them in a low carbon manner. The reason why we built it into "Y-shape" was to make it roomier. We also removed the fixed walls to make it more flexible for different designs."

There are many interesting designs contained within this "Y-shaped House".

"So far, we enjoyed the kitchen that it is really unique, and probably designed in a way for Chinese cooks."

The design put forward by these students from Tongji University was remarkable, particularly due to its heat-preserving design, as were a number of the other entries. It's hard to believe that all these houses were constructed by students alone, from the design and fundraising stages, right through to construction and presentation.

The competition was also a very good chance for students from different universities to communicate. David Dale is a student from the University of Maryland. He says he appreciated all the entries.

"They all have done a very good job, and have very good engineering systems in there. I mean every house here has done a very good job. So that's why they are here."

The Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The teams will compete in 10 contests which is why the competition is called a 'decathlon'. It is also known as the "Olympic Games of Solar Energy".

In 2013, this contest will be held in China which will be the first time it's held in a developing country.

For CRI, I'm Wei Tong.