The 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Photo Gallery

The Ohio State House offered an adjustable exterior screen that provides privacy and protection from the sun, and a bioremediation system that filters rainwater and brings nature close to the house's residents!

The CalTech home featured a new innovation called out-sulation. Unlike insulation, out-sulation is installed on the outside of the studs to prevent costly heat and cooling losses.

A gorgeous rainbow over the Solar Decathlon on the Washington Mall.

Team Massachusetts showed off their use of solar panels at the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

The University of Maryland's Water Shed's holistic approach to water conversation, recycling and storm water management resulted in this butterfly-like roofline home.

Check out these solar panels and energy efficient windows made with plastics that were displayed at the 2011 Solar Decathlon!

Plastic laminate countertops shown at the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Energy efficient appliances in Solar Decathlon Homes.

Plastic window coverings in Solar Decathlon Homes.

Plastic rain barrel at the Purdue Home at the Solar Decathlon

The Flex House from Team Florida is designed as a sustainable house that can adapt easily to different site situations and plan configurations.

Sliding solar doors in the ENJOY house from Team New Jersey were used at the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Brooks Utley from HGTV arranges vinyl plastic furniture in the Sci-Arc/Cal-Tech home at the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Brooks Utley from HGTV checks out the plastics within the homes at the Solar Decathlon.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Re-Home is based on the principles of sustainability, flexibility and ease of construction. The home consists of two modules that can be transported on one trailer for rapid response to disaster stricken areas.