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The WSU house under re-construction on the National Mall. Photo by Wendy Butler-Burt, Department of Energy.

In late August, the students have returned from their summer break, and the solar house is abuzz with activity. On the wall in the engineering lab is a “Treasure Chest of the Day.” This is meant to be encouraging, giving accolades to a student who brought in a donor or had particular success. One treasure chest goes to Duff Bangs “for his commitment and dedication to our roof! When others saw the impossible, Duff found an opportunity . . . for free.” Along with the Treasure Chest are daily inspirational snippets like this conversation between Mellum and her mother via cell phone: Mom: “Be like a stamp.” Mellum: “What?” Mom: “You know, stick to it.”

Support for the project has been overwhelming, says Read. To get their materials, students find what they need, often on the Internet. Then they call companies and ask for donations.

On a white board in the engineering laboratory is a long list of needed materials and supplies. Every day, the students erase something off the list and then add more. Each student is in charge of an item. The list seems to get longer and longer. As soon as they acquire their dishwasher, for instance, they have to think of dishes and towels.

“There are so many things you don’t think of when you’re in the design process,” says Mellum.

Then there’s the continual conversation that the students have with their suppliers: Every time they explain that they have to build the house, take it apart, rebuild it in four days, and then take it apart again, a sponsor replies that houses aren’t meant to be taken apart.

“People don’t really build a house like that,” says Mellum.

“Yeah, we know,” adds Liston. “But we need to.”

September arrives, and the students are running pell-mell. They’re sweating and look exhausted. Today they finished the house, and they’re cleaning up for an open house later this evening. Several hours later, the cleanup finished, it’s time for a photo shoot. Suddenly it feels like a wedding. Here is a bunch of young people, laughing and noisy. For the first time in days, they seem to be taking a breather.

But it’s only a momentary respite. They now have a few days to take the house apart and put the pieces on three semi trucks for the trip east. Then they’ll have to rebuild it in D.C.—keeping up with classes all the while.

“There’s still quite a bit of pressure,” says Read. “It’s been fun for the most part. You feel the stress and pressure, but that’s life.”

Finally, in late September, the students arrive in Washington.  To reassemble the house, the group quickly decides to split into three groups of four. They take shifts—12 hours of working and six of sleep. Unlike some of the other entries, the WSU solar house has suffered little damage on its trip to Washington, and the reassembly goes smoothly. By the time they’re done, they’re exhausted, but pleased.

One quiet day before the opening of the competition, the group receives a visit from a lone jogger—an older gentleman with whom they chat for a while. Later, at a reception hosted by BP Solar at the Hart Senate Office Building, they learn that the man is North Dakota senator Byron Dorgan, cochair of the Renewables and Energy Efficiency Caucus. In his speech at the reception, Dorgan compliments the WSU students on their friendliness.

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Continued