Organizers behind the Solar Decathlon, a U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored competition to build the most compelling solar-powered house, hosted an event yesterday in virtual world Second Life allowing visitors to tour a virtual replica of a house designed to be powered entirely by the sun.

Solar Decathlon director Richard King presented slides of real-life solar-powered modular houses from last year’s competition at the Federal Virtual Worlds Expo before taking attendees through a Second Life re-creation of the 2007 Universidad Polytecnica de Madrid Solar Decathlon home.

Like the real structure it owes its design to, the virtual house was built to draw its power from solar panels absorbing heat and light from Second Life’s sun.