The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a competition that challenges collegiate teams to design affordable, solar-powered houses. Medill’s Katie Banks visited the temporary exhibit in Washington’s West Potomac Park to learn how these student architects are changing the world.

For Katie Banks’ tweeting coverage of the event, click here.

Student architects await the results of the affordability contest. (Katie Banks / MNS)

Middlebury College solar home (Katie Banks / MNS)

The Purdue University team took the lead Tuesday afternoon after tying for first place in the affordability contest. (Katie Banks / MNS)