Carnegie Mellon University students, with assistance from two other schools, have completed construction of a solar house in time for a national competition.

CMU soon must disassemble its entry, haul it to Washington, D.C., and rebuild it on the National Mall to compete in the Department of Energy's 2007 Solar Decathlon Oct. 12-20, with construction to begin Oct. 3.

It will compete against 19 other teams, including ones from Canada, Germany and Spain, with the goal of producing the most efficient solar house that can provide sufficient energy to heat, cool and control humidity in the house, operate all appliances, and also provide power for electric cars. There are 10 different competitions, with a grand prize winner -- thus the decathlon title.

The University of Colorado won the first two competitions in 2003 and 2005, but CMU students and advisers think they have a contender this year.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.