UNLV team is among 20 in 2013 national solar decathlon

A team from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been selected to compete in the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the school is one of 20 from around the country that will design, construct and test a solar-powered home and reassemble it at the fall 2013 competition in Irvine, Calif.

Teams have two years to work on their project before the decathlon, which will be judged in categories including architecture, engineering and energy production.

Chu says the contest will unleash student creativity and help meet President Barack Obama’s goal of preparing the next generation of energy leaders.

Five solar decathlons have been in Washington, DC. The 2013 competition is moving to Southern California.