Solar Houses in the decathlon. They will be judged based on the amount of energy they generate in comparison to the amount they use.

Schneider Electric, a specialist in energy management, announced today its sponsorship of the 2009 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in an effort to help people make the most of their energy. The Decathlon is designed to challenge students from twenty different colleges in the United States, Germany, Canada, and Spain to develop solar-powered houses at the National Mall in Washington D.C. These students will have to design the house, build it, and then operate it.

The public will be able to see these houses from Oct. 9-13 and then Oct. 15-18, 2009. What the houses will demonstrate are innovative technologies in clean energy, the economic benefits of solar power to consumers, and to develop a well-trained workforce that will be prepared for unique green job.

To win the contest, the contestants must generate more electricity than they utilize in their house. In other words, if the house were to only need 100 watts of energy, but it created 150 watts of energy, the remaining 50 watts would be sold back to a utility company to help power Washington D.C. The house that can use the least amount of energy while generating great amounts will be the winner.

The contestants will have to connect their house to the local Washington D.C. utility thanks to a “micro-grid” provided by Schneider Electric. This will make it possible to judge the net-metering.

“Schneider Electric is proud to sponsor the Solar Decathlon and encourage students and the community to think about active energy solutions that can be implemented today,” said Amelia Huntington, President, Schneider Electric U.S. “By contributing our expertise, as well as our energy management and technology solutions, we can raise awareness of the opportunities to make energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green.”

The hope for tehse decathlons is to demonstrate to consumers that solar panels are a beneficial way in reducing the cost of energy and even to create a profit for the household.