Trailer park of the future

One day, you might be able to buy your very own version of a UMR solar house. Dr. Stuart Baur, advisor to the UMR Solar House Team, says he gets inquiries from people all the time about buying one of the university's solar houses or at least purchasing the plans. With this in mind, Baur is interested in partnering with a company that sells manufactured homes. Because UMR's houses have to be capable of quick assembly, they are constructed in units and are put together a lot like quality manufactured homes. Baur imagines rows of solar houses in a futuristic trailer park, where none of the residents have to worry about utility bills. UMR is currently plannings its own solar village near campus; and the solar house team will soon start construction on its house for the 2007 Solar Decathlon. This time, the Department of Energy is kicking in $100,000 to support the project.