SOLAR HOUSE
See it in Crossroads Gallery
March 6, 2021 – February 20, 2022
Be sure to check out one of our outdoor exhibits – a functional and efficient Solar House from West Virginia University. The house is one of 20 homes designed and built by university students around the world for the 2015 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. The students were tasked with building a house that is affordable, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.
As renewable energy technology continued to advance, Tellus Science Museum saw a need to replace the 2007 Georgia Tech Solar Decathlon house which was stationed at the museum for 8 years and was visited by over a quarter million guests. Tellus staff set out on a fundraising campaign to help bring a new house from the decathlon competition site in Irvine, CA to the museum in Cartersville, GA. The campaign funds offset costs to make the house “visitor-friendly” i.e. adding hands-on interactive exhibit components, reader panels to describe the technology and design, rebuilding and redesigning portions of the home to make it accessible for guests, and more.
The 800 square foot home is surrounded on three sides by floor-to-ceiling glass. Thanks to great partners at companies like 3M, Shaw Industries, and Georgia Power, we were actually able to make a few upgrades to the home. With products from these companies, the home now features a 3M solar reflective window film and Shaw flooring. We are appreciative of the financial support these corporate supporters and various individuals have demonstrated, as well as the products and labor they have contributed to help bring this house to life.
The Solar House is open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays, 1 – 4 PM. Admission to the house is free with museum admission.
*Hours subject to change without notice.
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