Each of the four times Missouri S&T has set up a solar house in Washington DC it seems like dozens of MSM/UMR/S&T alumni and friends come out of nowhere. Just this morning four members of the Omaha, NE alumni section who were visiting the capitol were thrilled to find that Show-Me Solar was back in town. The group, whose names escape us right now, were interested in the team's design approach and were disappointed they'll miss next Saturday's alumni dinner and house tour.
Yesterday an S&T professor brought over a colleague from UT-Austin to see the house. The Longhorns have been in several of the previous Solar Decathlons but decided to sit this one out, he told us.
This afternoon Ken Kanges (right) EE '93 stopped by with his young daughter Sara to see how the team was coming along. Like many of our other visitors he just happened to walk by and notice the Missouri project. Ken and Sara got an impromptu briefing from team leader Corey Brennan before they headed out to see more DC sites.
Meanwhile, the work continues. The landscape crew, under the guidance of hard working Missouri Extension Specialist Mike Goldschmidt, showed up with the mulch and some more bedding plants. This contest is not just about the houses, it is about solar HOMES. That means you are judged on a ready-to-move-into house, complete with decks, stairs, ramps and full landscaping. Disclaimer: All the teams should have a landscape plan to generate as much curb-appeal for the judges, but if you want to see a troubled asset, check out the grass on the center of the Mall. Given the way it is treated by bazillions of tourists and who-knows-how-many public exhibits and events set up on the lawn, it's a wonder it isn't just hard-packed dirt.
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