Missouri University of Science and Technology
ER-T2-3: Model Room in a Residence Hall

The 2009 Solar House, one of four solar-powered homes in the Missouri S&T Solar Village, is open to students and the public for tours. The Solar Village is a demonstration of sustainable living principles. The Missouri S&T Solar Village consists of four solar-powered homes designed and built by Missouri University of Science and Technology students. Missouri S&T students began building the solar houses in 2000. The homes were constructed as part of the university’s participation in an international student design competition, the Solar Decathlon. These solar homes serve not only as campus housing, but are also used to educate the public, provide research opportunities, and demonstrate current and future GHG reduction steps available to the community. Any Missouri S&T student can live in the Solar Village. Because it is on campus, it counts as Campus Approved Housing for freshman and sophomore students who are required to live on campus. The Solar Village is first open to members of the solar house team. If no one from the Solar House team wants to live there, it is then open to members of the Student Design and Experiential Learning Center. After that, the house is available to the entire campus. Tenants are encouraged to practice sustainable living by watching water usage, conserving energy, recycling, and composting. The goal of the Solar Village is for the houses to produce enough energy to be self-sustaining. Technological improvements made since the first home was built help make the newer homes more sustainable.