Durham, N.C. — Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering and The Home Depot are partnering to create “The Home Depot Smart Home,” a residential laboratory designed to meet LEED green building standards, where students will research and develop innovative solutions for the home in areas such as security and home monitoring, communications, energy efficiency, entertainment, environment and health.

In a Smart Home, technology is used to anticipate the wide range of residents’ needs (from security to shower temperature to surround-sound stereo), minimize waste, maximize reuse and recycling, and enhance quality of life. Construction has begun on the 6,000-square-foot house, which will be located on the university’s Central Campus, and is expected to be completed by fall 2007. Bovis Lend Lease, based in Raleigh, N.C., is the contractor for the project. For more information, visit www.smarthome.duke.edu.