Eco Factor: Sustainable shelter harvests solar energy to illuminate energy-efficient OLEDs.
Industrial designer Todd Kramer has made sure that disaster relief operations get quick and green with his new In-Habit shelter. The hi-tech shelter defines the next phase of relief shelters, which is inspired by natural forms and utilizes hi-tech materials to reduce the weight of the shelter, while maximizing its ability to harvest natural sources for heat and power.
The shelter is designed to be built using SmartWrap, a new material composed of thin polyethylene teraphathalate, which is made by recycling plastic bottles. The completely waterproof shelter carries microcapsules of Phase Change Material that regulates latent heat in structures that are completely enclosed, allowing the shelter to be used in any part of the world.
The cladding also harvests solar energy, which is used to illuminate the shelter after dark using energy-saving OLED lights. The thin walls make the shelter flexible and also allow it to be dismantled and packed into boxes for easy transportation.
The In-Habit shelter also carries a built-in water filtration system that collects rainwater and condensation, filters it and stores it in an expandable 2-gallon container for sanitary needs.
Via: Design21SDN
