Solar home in Va. getting high marks - AP

[Eugene]

Solar home in Va. getting high marks

By MATT REED, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 11 minutes ago

RICHMOND, Va. - State Sen. Frank Wagner is staying warm at his temporary address,
even in below-freezing weather and without a traditional power supply or fireplace.

The Virginia Beach Republican, a proponent of alternative energy sources, is living
for a week outside the Science Museum of Virginia in a solar-powered house designed
and built by Virginia Tech students. He moved in Wednesday.

Using a remote control and a computer, Wagner is testing whether the award-winning
home can generate enough electricity from the sun to run everyday home appliances
— and still have enough left over to send to Richmond's power grid or charge an
electric car.

"The house is designed to be self-sufficient, but there's a lot of things that could be
adapted into existing houses today," he said Friday, after spending his second almost
glitch-free night in the 800 square-foot home.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070127/ap_on_sc/solar_house

[Roland99]

1. I do wonder how John Edwards plans to heat/cool his new monstrosity.

Kudos to State Sen. Wagner for moving alternative energy further in the media.

[jpak]

2. I believe this was one of the Solar Decathelon houses...

http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/2005/homes_gallery.html