Missouri University of Science and Technology has named its second solar house complex the EcoVillage. The EcoVillage is located between Missouri S&T’s Allgood-Bailey Stadium and Innovation Park along 10th Street in Rolla.

The site is currently home to two of Missouri S&T’s Solar Decathlon entries, the 2013 Chameleon House and the 2015 Nest Home. The new site has room for four other house-sized buildings, either future competition houses or other university construction projects.

“The name EcoVillage is the result of a communitywide naming competition,” says Anthony Arnold, assistant director of the office of sustainable energy and environmental engagement at Missouri S&T. “After receiving numerous entries, S&T’s Strategic Sustainability Planning Committee made recommendations to the chancellor, who made the final decision.”

The EcoVillage is the second group of solar-powered houses on the Missouri S&T campus. The Solar Village, located across the street from the EcoVillage, features four past Solar Decathlon houses, a microgrid energy management system and an electric-vehicle charger.

“The new site, like the current Solar Village, will serve as a research instrument for Missouri S&T faculty and students,” says Arnold. “Focusing on our Smart Living signature area, real-world data can be collected to help advance fields such as energy conservation, computer science and psychology.”

One of Missouri S&T’s best-in-class research areas, Smart Living, incorporates computing expertise with smart sensors, pervasive computing, and sophisticated analytics and intelligence with social sciences to develop future smart homes, buildings and entire communities.

Missouri S&T is one of 16 teams from around the world to be selected to compete in the 2017 Solar Decathlon. The Solar House Design Team is currently in the midst of a two-year project to build a solar-powered, highly energy-efficient house that combines affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence.

Missouri S&T’s proposal is titled “SILO,” which stands for Smart Innovative Living Oasis. The project will use innovative technology combined with a psychological focus to make a house suited for single or double occupancy. The team will concentrate its efforts on designing a home that can improve both the mental and physical health of residents.

Missouri S&T has built six solar houses for previous competitions – more than any other university.

To request a group tour of the new EcoVillage, visit ose3.mst.edu.