AMES – On the eve of Earth Day -- concerns about energy and the environment continue to heat up. The search is on to find new ways to save money and resources.

Taking homes "off the grid" by generating their own power is one green idea. Now, an Iowa effort could get worldwide attention.

Everything from the spray foam insulation to the futuristic design of Iowa State University's futuristic home centers around conserving energy.

"Our real agenda is to educate people as well as to move the technology further into the future,” Iowa State University graduate student Eric Smith said.

Two-hundred Iowa State University students are working together to build a solar powered house...with a little help from professionals.

Cedar Rapids city council members Pat Shey and Tom Podzimek donated time and expertise from their company to install the high-tech spray foam insulation. They co-own a business called "Sage Companies."

When the foam hardens, it feels like styrofoam. Once it dries on the wall, it's virtually impossible for any air to pass through.

"There's more people that are concerned about what's going into their homes and how that affects their health and respiratory system,” Shey said.

While you might save money on heating and cooling bills in the long-run, installing the soybean-based foam costs four times as much as standard fiberglass insulation.

"There's a lot of things in this house you can pick and choose if you want to build a new house or renovate your old house,” Iowa State University student Andy Temeyer said.

The ISU home of the future promises to teach priceless lessons about the energy. But, the project's $350,000 price-tag makes it more of a dream than an actual place to live.

Construction will wrap up in late summer or early fall.

Then, the University will move the home to Washington, D.C. to compete against nineteen other universities.

If you'd like to see the home, you can attend an open house on April 25th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. It's located at 1220 Southern Hills Drive in Ames, Iowa.


To learn more about the project and the competition, visit:
http://www.solard.iastate.edu



To learn more about Sage Companies, visit:
http://www.sagemidwest.com


E-mail Mark Geary at Mark.Geary@kcrg.com or follow him on Twitter.