The University of Michigan's solar house might look like it's made to travel but the sustainable solar decathlete has found a home at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

The Michigan Solar House (commonly known as MiSo) competed in the 2005 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. The 660-square foot, solar-powered home that kind of looks like a camping trailer was designed and built by a team of 150 students, faculty and local volunteers. The goal was to create a house that produced its own energy.

The solar house has been rebuilt in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and is open for tours. The idea is to help create public awareness for sustainability subjects, such as energy efficiency and solar technology.

The university will also conduct a two-year study of how the house's sustainable energy systems perform. These include how it generates and uses solar energy.

"We're also going to be looking at various improvements to the envelope," says Harry Giles, professor of practice at the College of Architecture at U-M.

Where the solar house goes after the study has yet to be determined, but it appears it will stay in the botanical gardens for the foreseeable future.

For information on the tours, call (734) 647-7600.

Source: Harry Giles, professor of practice at the College of Architecture at the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke