The MorningStar solar house was designed and built by Penn State students for the 2007 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon is a bi-annual competition sponsored by the Department of Energy that challenges universities to build their own solar homes. The MorningStar project started in 2005, and nearly 800 students from various academic backgrounds (architectural engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, business, communications, etc) were involved in designing and building the house. The core team consisted of about 30 students, and there were several core faculty members. Part of the Solar Decathlon is dedicated to making solar homes marketable. The team at Penn State was inspired by the idea of an ecologically conscious couple or single person that want to be good stewards of the earth, are willing to interact with the house to actively save energy, and be comfortable. Complete with a bedroom, living and dining spaces, and a fully functioning kitchen and bathroom, the interior of the home is a grand total of 800 square feet. In order to achieve high energy efficiency, the students used radiant floor heating to minimize the energy used to heat the air, many large windows to let in natural light, and appliances like an induction stove and a combo washer/dryer that use as little energy as possible. In addition, there are photovoltaic cells on the roof, and siding of the home to produce electricity that the home can consume. A solar charging port, donated by General Motors, is along the side of the home and can supply the standard 240V for electric vehicles. MorningStar’s final resting place is at the Sustainability Experience Center.
For more information visit the
Sustainability Experience Center website.