The Solar Decathlon is an international competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses, which will be exhibited in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall in October 2011. Stevens students – with students from Parsons The New School for Design, and Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy – are part of Empowerhouse, a team that is designing and building a net-zero energy home, set to be a new vision for affordable housing. After the competition, the house will be resituated in the Deanwood neighborhood of D.C. where it will become home to a family in need, working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., and the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development.  The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 will be held at the National Mall's West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The Solar Decathlon houses and surrounding solar village are open Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2011. Weekday hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Weekend hours: 10 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.