IRVINE, CA (Oct. 12, 2015): Come to the Orange County Great Park on Thursday, Oct. 15 through Sunday, Oct. 18 for the final weekend of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015. While the weather is expected to cool down significantly this weekend, the competition that challenges collegiate students to imagine, design and build solar-powered houses is heating up. Winners in various categories will be announced beginning Thursday.

Visitors to the free Solar Decathlon will have the opportunity to tour 14 solar-powered houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money. Be sure to stop by Team Orange County’s house, Casa del Sol. Students from UC Irvine, Chapman University, Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College worked together to build the first local entry into the competition.

In addition to the house tours, families on Saturday and Sunday will enjoy the Children’s Activities Area, which includes bounce houses, face painting and balloon artists.

Parking is $10. For more information, visit solardecathlon.gov and cityofirvine.org. You can watch the daily Solar Decathlon Minute on the City’s YouTube channel, http://youtube.com/ictv30.