Virginia Tech's 2009 U.S. Solar Decathlon team last week moved its 800-square-foot entry, known as LUMENHAUS, from the Research and Demonstration Facility on Plantation Road to the Blacksburg Square shopping center on South Main Street.

LUMENHAUS is a zero-energy home that can be completely powered by the sun. Other sustainable features include the use of passive energy systems, radiant heating, and building materials that are from renewable and/or recyclable sources.

The move to Blacksburg Square allows the Solar Decathlon team to attach solar panels to the roof and put other finishing touches on it before its next stop, Washington D.C.

The house will be displayed outside the National Building Museum for most of September. In October, LUMENHAUS will be on the National Mall along with other entrants in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009.

Learn more at http://www.campaign.vt.edu/campaign-vt/?q=node/475/.