Showing posts with label cool house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cool house. Show all posts

Lotus House of Michelle Kaufmann architect

5 Prefab Homes

1. WEEHOUSE

At just $125 per square foot, the WeeHouse is a single module that can be plopped on just about any site, including a rooftop. The basic unit is framed with steel and wood, and comes with tongue-and-groove bamboo flooring, and Ikea cabinetry, kitchens and sinks. Despite what the name implies, don’t let it size fool you- this is one awesome modern residence.

2. TINY TUMBLEWEED HOUSE

Founded on his personal philosophy and desire for low-impact living, Jay Shafer’s Tiny Tumbleweed House has represents what he calls “subtractive design,” rejecting typical spatial assumptions and opting for clarity through conscientious use of space. This tiny house ranges from 40-500 square feet and accommodates a whole slew of needs from home office to vacation home or full-time residence. They’re also road-ready for the ultimate nomadic portability.

3. SUSTAIN MINI HOME

The Sustain MiniHome is quite the compact green machine, packing a ton of green materials and technologies into a small but very livable space. No vinyl, formaldehyde, toxic adhesives or finishes, all water-based or plant oil-based finishes, FSC certification, natural ventilation… the list goes on and on. Not to mention, it’s portable, modern, and cutely compact!

4. LOFTCUBE

Not only is the LoftCube tiny, it can be strategically plopped on a rooftop so as to not consume any additional footprint. Especially in urban environments where there’s nowhere to go but up, LoftCube provides a small but clever solution to your housing needs. Built by Werner Aisslinger, LoftCube also boasts an affordable pricetag at just $55,000, and can be easily transported to your next rooftop location via helicopter.

5. MICROCOMPACT HOME

This tiny residential cube packs a highly-functional punch, providing a double bed, bathroom, lobby, dining space for 4-5 people, and state-of-the-art entertainment technology, all for just 50,000 Euros. And size-wise, it measures in at a tiny 2.65 m cubed (roughly 77 sq ft), but incorporates everything a person needs in a home in its super compact design.

Read more: Top 5 Tiniest Prefab Homes Weehouse – Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Smartphone Apps That Will Help You Save Energy

1. iPhone Energy UFO : Visible Energy’s iPhone app works in tandem with the Visible Energy UFO Power Center (a series of four smart power strips installed at home) to provide on-the-go visual feedback of electricity consumption and cost. In addition to providing information on the power usage of each power strip, the app also shows energy costs and gives users the option to turn outlets on and off on a daily schedule. It’s cheaper than installing an entire home energy management system.

2. Control4 Mobile Navigator: This home energy app, available for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Android, allows users to control everything from security, lighting, and temperature to music and video. The app is similar to Wiser’s offering. iPad users can also download a separate Control4 app.

3. MeterRead: This handy iPhone app lets you read your electricity meter using your phone. Each time you check it, the app tell you how many kilowatt hours (kWh) of power were used since the last read. That information can then be used to predict your total energy usage over the next 30 days.

4. Wiser: Anyone who owns a Wiser Home Control energy management system would be wise to download the iPhone app, which provides a 3G or wireless connection to your system. That means everything from lighting to security, climate and even camera monitoring can be controlled from your phone. So if you, for example, forgot to turn off the lights in the living room, you can just click them off remotely using the app.

5. SunPower Monitoring System: SunPower’s innovative Solar Electric Home Energy Management System lets you monitor energy produced from SunPower-branded solar systems in real time. The iPhone app offers statistics on the lifetime energy generation of the panels as well as daily production, usage, and net energy use.

Read more: 5 Smartphone Apps That Will Help You Save Energy | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World