Georgia Tech's solar house opens to the public

Home and Garden

The solar house from the Georgia Institute of Technology is on display at the Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum

The solar house from the Georgia Institute of Technology will open to visitors at Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum on Oct. 10, 2009. The solar house was built for the Solar Decathlon competition in 2007. It produces all the energy it needs to function from solar panels on its roof. The solar panels in front power parts of the science museum.

The east and south walls of the solar house are made of polycarbonate panels. They allow light in, but are thermally efficient. These louvers provide shade, which deflects heat while still allowing light in. The solar panels in front of the house don't generate power for the house -- they generate power for the museum, more than enough to run the planetarium.

The clerestory, the glass perimeter just below the roof line, lets in natural daylight, but light also comes in through the walls and ceiling. Photosensors inside the house track the amount of light coming in, and adjust non-natural light for maximum efficiency. Individual spaces have small air conditioning units that let the homeowner cool only the area they're using.

Cantey Smith, the director of education for Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum, is working to develop a curriculum for students to learn about the solar house. The living area includes a full-size fridge, small dining and desk area and air conditioning. A small table in the foreground hides sensors that monitor things like carbon dioxide levels.

Monitors inside the house track efficiency, light, carbon dioxide and other measurements that reveal how efficient the house is. Above, the ceilings continue to let in light.

The desk and living areas inside the solar house are built with integrated storage and lighting, so few fixtures or additional furniture items are needed in the relatively small space.

The bedroom space is small, with enough room for a bed, and lights and storage integrated into the walls around it.

The bathroom inside the solar house is spacious, but simple, with a large shower, sink and water-efficient toilet.

Evacuated glass tubes behind the house use the sun's energy to heat water for the house on sunny days. For cloudy days, battery electricity can heat water. Rainwater from gutters is collected in the gray water tanks next to the heater. It's used to spray the solar panels, which sometimes need to be cooled to improve performance. The water also can be used for gardening.

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The solar house from the Georgia Institute of Technology will open to visitors at Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum on Oct. 10, 2009. The solar house was built for the Solar Decathlon competition in 2007. It produces all the energy it needs to function from solar panels on its roof. The solar panels in front power parts of the science museum.

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