I read this on fox news a while back.
It truly amazes me how asinine the public can be in the naivete of practical application and understanding of environmental science.
As a solar generator myself, I find it comical that this flawed technology has been subsidized so forcibly.
900K for this?
http://www.solar.ltu.edu/2_design.php
Here's the UPI story.
" TROY, Mich., May 15 (UPI) -- A $900,000 solar-powered house
designed for the city of Troy, Mich. has never opened because of
water damage caused by frozen pipes, an official said,
Director Carol Anderson of Troy's Parks and Recreation
Department said tours of the house can't begin until the damaged
floors have been repaired The Detroit News reported Friday.
"It's not safe right now, and there's no estimated opening
time because it depends on when we can get funding," Anderson said.
The 800-square foot house was built by students from
Lawrence Technological University. It had no gas or electrical
hookups and was supposed to be livable year-round.
"The system was designed to kick a heater on to keep water
from freezing," said Jeff Biegler, parks superintendent. "The heater
drew all reserve power out of the battery, causing the system to
back down."
Joe Veryser of the university said he heard that somebody
turned the system off and forgot to turn it back on. "