"It's a 3,075-square foot, Victorian-style house, lathered in solar panels," says Mac-Zero team member Jeromy Clements.

It's their green design that's soon to become a reality. Sixteen students representing LCC were announced the winners of the statewide BuildUp Michigan design challenge Friday, beating out six other teams.

"We were up against teams from University of Michigan, Michigan State..." says LCC's Environment Design and Building Technology Dept. Chairman George Berghorn.

Their goal: to design an energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing house. This "net-zero" home will be built on mackinac island in the fall.

"Net-zero being the house generates as much energy as it consumes," says Berghorn.

Other differences between a green building and a regular one are optimizing recyclable materials and minimizing waste. Participants hope their Mackinac house is just the beginning of Michigan's sustainable future.

"Green construction and the new energy economy is a real opportunity to create jobs," Berghorn says.

For Clements, green is his future.

"Architecture with a focus on greener sustainability...that's exactly what I should be doing," says Clements.

And he's off the a good start - the team is working with competition organizers to get funding. Berghorn tells us the house will cost $600,000 to build.

"The plan right not is something that would be available right now as a rental," Berghorn says.

Built not only as an example of renewable energy, but as a renewable funding source.

"The money initially that's going to be put in to get the home built would then be replenished through time as people come in and rent the home and those dollars would be available to do this competition a year or two again," Berghorn says.

"We're really setting an example to the world. If students from a community college can do this, then what can professionals do?"

Clements says the green possibilities are endless.

The Mac-Zero team will spend the summer finalizing details of their design. They'll work with Meadowlark Builders of Ann Arbor to begin construction by October.