U of M hopes to win solar house competition

The U of M's solar house
This house, designed by students at the University of Minnesota, will be judged in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C.
MPR Photo/Jim Bickal

Today on the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, you can take a look at a fully-equipped house that is powered entirely by solar energy and is designed to use less power than it generates.

Later this month, the house will be taken apart and shipped to Washington, D.C. where it will be reassembled on the National Mall for the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition.

The house, which was designed by students at the university, will compete against 19 other schools in ten categories. Ann Johnson is the project manager. She took Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer on a tour of what her team is calling the ICON house.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.