Students of Rice University in Houston have built a new solar house that is definitely to look out for. The house named as the Zerow House will compete against other solar homes as part of the Solar Decathlon sponsored by the U.S. Energy Department. Unlike its other competitors, which are integrating high-concept, high-price features, it was designed with affordability in mind.
The Zerow House is equipped with photovoltaic solar panels and other green technologies that will produce enough energy to meet with its on-site energy requirements. A good $150,000 has gone into replicating the design and concept into six energy-efficient, one and two-bedroom homes on two 50-by-80-foot lots in Houston’s Third Ward. The house has a limited number of windows to withstand the scorching heat of the Houston’s Gulf Coast sun. To get some relief during the hot months, some of the walls are thickened to reduce heat gain from the sun. Rice’s Solar Decathlon team also used a foundation and materials that could stand up to hurricane-force winds. After the successful completion of the Solar Decathlon, the solar house will be transported back to its permanent location in Houston.