KTAB Going Green: Solar Homes
By: Kira Miner
Updated: March 31, 2009
It may sit in the shadow of Penn State's Beaver stadium, but this home can really soak up the sun. It's completely solar powered.
This is the university's first entry into the solar decathlon.
It's a competition between 20 schools from around the world to build the best solar home.
They're judged on design, efficiency and use in the real world.
This home is open to the public and to teachers for educational purposes.
It showcases space saving and energy saving appliances.
It brings in plenty of sunlight.
And notice the stone floors that hold heat.
John and Molly Schultz have been married for 50 years.
They wanted to check out the solar home to find ideas to use in their own home.
They found that even in a cold and often cloudy Pennsylvania climate, solar homes work just fine.
After seeing this home, the Schultzs' may buy a solar hot water heater.
They learned it can cut the cost to heat their water by 70 percent.
Hundreds of students helped design and build this 800 square foot home.
They want to make the next model easy for you to buy
