Marketplace aired a segment this last week on a new energy-efficient home for $100,000 in Philadelphia.

I think this is an exciting development! Many of the super energy efficient homes we've seen to date have been at much higher price levels.

So, would you find a 1000 square foot, energy efficient (energy bills 50% below average for this size home) home in an urban setting attractive? Let's say the home is in DC instead of Philadelphia. Are you tempted? How about in Charlottesville?

20 teams of college students have been hard at work on the mall in DC building 20 houses. These aren't just your average house. These teams and the houses they've built are competing in the solar decathlon.

These homes are probably too small for most of us to want to live in. (Although one of them is for sale and does have interested buyers!) The reasons behind the competition are threefold. The first idea is to provide an opportunity for the students to learn about ecologically friendly building techniques and materials. It's also an opportunity to call attention to the possibilities and the improved technology available. And thirdly, this is an opportunity for consumers to get a close up view and to learn what might be adaptable to their own homes.

It's called a decathlon because the students compete in 10 categories.

• Architecture
• Engineering
• Market Viability
• Communications
• Comfort Zone
• Appliances
• Hot Water
• Lighting
• Energy Balance
• Getting Around

The houses themselves are fascinating and beautiful. They are often ascetically pleasing as well as incredibly energy efficient. And it was great fun to talk to these knowledgeable, passionate young people.

The decathlon is on the mall through Saturday, October 20th. In addition to seeing the houses and talking to the students you can also attend a variety of seminars to help you implement some of this technology at home.

If you can't get there (or even if you can) check out their web site at http://www.solardecathlon.org There you'll find tons of information on the competition, the teams and the houses. That information even includes house plans you can download.

I promise, it will get you thinking!