Solar house is getting its final test

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A building crew on Purdue's campus has been busy putting together a solar house for an international competition. Now the group is taking the house apart, only to put it back together again.

It is the next step for the two-bedroom, energy efficient house known as "INhome."

It is heading to Washington D.C. in September to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon.

Before that, it has to go through one more test, being taken apart and put back together.

"We have been holding our breath for about two months here,” said Architecture and Design Major Sarah Miller. “It is actually pretty exciting. I felt like I was getting ready to go to Disney World. I could not go to sleep because I knew it was coming."

For the next few days, crews will be taking the contents from inside the house and putting it in trailers. Next, a large crane will take the house apart. It is designed to come apart in six pieces. After that it will be put back together about 40 feet from where it is right now. Miller said it is a dry-run before D.C.

"Every screw around the house has been measured for how far apart they are,” Miller said. “As long as we were right with our measurements, and we get every screw out, it should come apart easy-peasy. Then it just has to go back together."

The team is made up of students from seven different majors, but they came together for one goal – to best the other 19 teams in the international competition.

"We have got a phenomenal team and that is what sets us apart,” said Construction Manager Eric Holt.

"Hopefully, we will bring the Midwest to Washington and people will enjoy it,” said Miller.

Purdue is competing in the Solar Decathlon for the first time.

Thursday morning, a large crane will begin the process of taking apart the house.

There will be an open-house, for the solar house, August 25.