A group of students at Florida State University have designed a house that could be useful in creating the next generation of solar energy and other clean power technologies.

According to an announcement from the university, the structure will be used to test solar and hydrogen power innovations, as well as other technologies, such as energy efficient design. The house is said to be 1,000 square feet and was built and designed by students and researchers associated with the university's Energy and Sustainability Center.

The house will use a hydrogen-based water electrolysis fuel cell system that can fill in on cloudy days when solar energy from a photovoltaic roof array is not being generated.

The university also noted that the house is registered to be LEED Platinum certified and design features such as advanced insulation, reclaimed wood and LED features.

Elsewhere, a number of universities are participating this month in the Solar Decathlon in Washington, where houses incorporating the latest in solar energy technology are designed and displayed for the public on the National Mall.

-- cooler planet