House from the future is totally green and off the Grid!

[Joanne98]

Not only is this Zero House by architect Scott Specht completely green, automatic and self-sufficient, but it looks so badass it could've come out of the movie Clockwork Orange. That extra wide roof holds a slew of high-efficiency solar panels that let you say goodbye to electric bills, powering the whole house and storing up enough extra energy in its batteries to keep everything running for a week, even if every single day is cloudy. That's just the beginning.



The house holds its water in a 2700-gallon roof cistern, and the sheer weight of all that liquid pushes water through the plumbing. When you flush the toilets, it all ends up in a compost container in the basement, which digests all that stuff organically, relieving you of attaching your abode to any sewage pipes. Goodbye, civilization.



http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/green-living/zero-house-from-the-future-is-totally-green-off+grid-322001.php

[Eurobabe]

1. Really wild...

Not too aesthetically pleasing, but I guess the pay offs are worth it. We are exploring geothermal when we build a house next year.

[unpossibles]

2. I think it's beautiful

in its own way

[ClassWarrior]

9. I agree. Very sexy. I'm sure the views from inside are spectacular.

NGU.

[Nederland]

6. I put in a geothermal system in my house

Love it; love my utility bill even more...

[Eurobabe]

7. Cool, so did my uncle, in OHIO

can't believe it, but I think he really likes it too. Geothermal and solar are huge in Germany. As is radiant floor heat, which is a natural paired with geothermal. Gawd I LOVE my warm floors. :hi:

[LisaM]

3. Isn't there a way to be efficient AND attractive?

I get cognitive dissonance just looking at the picture.

[Eurobabe]

8. Yeah, I am an architectural historian

and that picture insults my eyes, even though I know about the benefits for the environment. :puke:

I am not a fan of over the top modernism.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Me either.

[XemaSab]

15. The cantilevered boxcar effect doesn't do ya?

I think it's got a certain post-tsunami je ne sais quoi myself.... :P

[Eurobabe]

21. LOL, now that is a new style to add to the inventory

I was also thinking post-Katrina. :shrug:

[The2ndWheel]

4. Is that for the last person on Earth?

Completely automatic? So that last person would even be obsolete.

[Froward69]

5. OHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH

No sarcasm. really! OHHHHHH AHHHHHHHH!! I want one!

[LisaM]

10. Where do they put their books? Or pets? Or pianos?

Or artwork, or photographs?

Color me crazy, but I am suspicious of houses (and designs) without space for books.

[Odin2005]

12. Can we have a green house that is not an "international style" Modernist eyesore?

n/t

[losthills]

13. You could design one however you want.

The artistic design is not the most important idea, here.

You can design cities based on these concepts, too.

[Odin2005]

14. Duh! I was just mocking the architecture, silly!

:hi:

[losthills]

17. Check out this one....

http://community.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/SpiritoftheSunTheMakingofJohnSchaeffersEcoHome.html

[Odin2005]

18. OOH! nice! n/t

[Eurobabe]

23. THAT is so fucking kewl!

Part of the problem here in Germany is the lack of air conditioning, every summer it gets a little warmer, so it's neat to see how they solved that problem with the rocks. Something to keep in mind when we build. I would LOVE to go off the grid. Even better yet here if you produce an excess of electricity from solar or geothermal I think you can sell this back to the grid - and they HAVE to buy the KwH from you. :rofl:

(Thanks for posting, and I can highly recommend Gaiam's products, their bed linens and towels are to die for...organic cotton is a lovely, kushy material. :hi: )

[XemaSab]

16. But it's a FUTURE HOUSE!

And in the future everything will be modern, don'tcha know? :shrug:

[Odin2005]

19. Modern does not equal crap Modernist architecture.

The only good thing to come out of Modernism is Art Deco, and this ain't no Art Deco.

[XemaSab]

20. Would you be happier if it was made out of glass blocks?

:P

No, but really, I totally agree with you. Personally, I would prefer this house much better with some traditional Japanese stylings, at the very least. Ditch the cantilevering and add some wood siding and the house would be improved a hundredfold.

LOL, or you could add gables and gingerbread and make it a Victorian. :P

[Eurobabe]

22. thank you, my sentiments exactly

I know there are earth-friendly homes in Charlottesville, VA (granted they are not as off the grid as this model is) but they are much more visually appealing.

[XemaSab]

24. The comments after the article are PRECIOUS

:D

[momophile]

25. I love it. It is so beautiful. nt