The need for alternative energy solutions is a hot topic right now. Drury University and Crowder College hope to be a part of this solution by designing, building and operating an off-the-grid home as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2015 Solar Decathlon competition.
The Solar Decathlon is a “green” home building competition among colleges that apply and are selected by the Department of Energy. It’s meant to educate students and the public about the benefits, affordability and availability of renewable energy.
Crowder approached Drury to join forces on the project last year. Crowder offers programs in renewable energy and competed in the Decathlon in 2002 and 2005. Recognizing the strength of Drury’s architecture program, the Crowder team thought both colleges could benefit from each other’s expertise in order to design a top-notch home. They’re now competing against teams from Yale, Vanderbilt and Missouri S&T, among others.