The Solar Homestead is Appalachian State University's entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. Inspired by the pioneer spirit of the early settlers in the mountain region of North Carolina, we have designed a self-sustaining zero energy home.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Solar Homestead Wins People's Choice Award!!!

We are so proud to announce that our team has won the People's Choice award at the U.S. Solar Decathlon 2011!! We could not be more excited to hear that the public choose the Solar Homestead as their favorite project!


Each and every home had so many innovative ideas and beautiful designs and we feel honored to be voted as the people's favorite.

The support of our community has been tremendous. We could not have come this far without the support of the Appalachian State University students, alumni, faculty and staff, and support of the entire UNC system and the state of North Carolina. Thank you so much for sharing in this great experience, we've learned so much from the collaboration!




But most of all, we could not have done this if we had not worked together.  The Solar Homestead is not just a team of students, we have truly become a family.  As we pack up and take our house back to Boone, our family we've built will be more important than ever to get through the 'Solar Decathlon hangover'.

"The team's passion and enthusiasm were contagious," said Terri Jones, Solar Decathlon Communications Contest Official.