The winner of the 2010 European Solar Decathlon is Virginia Tech for the Lumenhaus!

Over the last couple weeks we at Inhabitat watched the 2010 Solar Decathlon Design Competition roll out 17 fantastic solar-powered prefab homes, showing the world that completely self-sustaining shelters can easily become a reality if we invest in solar technology. Over one thousand students took part in this phenomenal architectural design-build competition which challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive to boot. A true test of durable, effective design , the students not only faced rigorous juried evaluation, but they were also confronted with several challenges posed by Mother Nature herself - including the relentless beating sun and a wild thunderstorm! An exhilarating race from start to finish, some houses fell behind the pack, while a clear group of winners gradually took the lead at the forefront, and now, we are thrilled to finally announce that the winner of this year’s Solar Decathlon Europe is Virginia Tech, for their luminous Lumenhaus!