A small house in the City of Troy is going to mark the beginning of a new kind. A pragmatic solution to use solar energy in homes, the house is going to be rebuilt at the community centre as a centre for recreation activities in order to make people understand the available environmentally friendly building techniques and technologies along with energy conservation.
Already built twice at Lawrence Tech’s Southfield campus and again at the solar decathlon in Washington, D.C. this October, the ‘green home’ is aimed to be assembled by spring of 2008. What makes the home unique is the design through which sun’s light is converted into electricity to power the house’s needs and also for a small electric vehicle.
Team AloeTerra, a group of 40 students from Lawrence Tech University with help from a few volunteers built the house with photovoltaic panels covering the roof. The need for electricity is met using these panels and in case of low sunlight, a battery system acts as a back up for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The system used for heating water and heating stores water for a day and pay for itself by the end of two years.
Freely and readily available solar energy is an alternative that can competently take away our dependence on fossil fuels at least when it comes to energising our homes. Students form across the globe showed the way to the most pragmatic and liveable solar powered house in the Solar Decthlon held in October this year. National Mall in Washington DC such fan fair across October where student’s creative entries were well received.
The attractive and livable architectural design presented by Lawrence Tech University’s students was not only well received but it was also one of the runners-up in the BP People’s Choice Award competition.
Via: Metromodemedia
