Solar Decathlon 2007: Cincinnati House, originally uploaded by Inhabitat

What’s multi-colored, solar-powered, and green all over? The University of Cincinnati’s zero energy home at this year’s Solar Decathlon. The student team’s solution is not only a stylish-looking residence (the multi-colored “tiles” are recycled Formica), but is also easy to transport, scale, and modify in any way shape or form. Throw in some very green materials and systems, and you’ve got yourself a solar powerhouse!

See Solar Decathlon 2007: University of Cincinnati and accompanied Solar Decathlon 2007 Flickr Set and video, In the nation’s capital, a village powered by the sun.
A critique, Apollo-Soyuz: The Aesthetics of Engineering at the Solar Decathlon:

There are few things more exciting than the idea of living off the grid. Access to power, water and food is historically a function of interdependence: it takes whole societies to build infrastructure for the creation, maintenance and distribution of these necessities.
…
What’s missing here (apart from the conspicuous and regrettable absence of several well-known architecture schools) is the kind of intention and aspiration that can give engineering an emotional impact.

Apollo-Soyuz: The Aesthetics of Engineering at the Solar Decathlon.