- [Reacher] Sustainable, eco-friendly,
recyclable, and green,
there are many terms we use,
and we're always interested in
what the industry has to offer in those areas.
This is Reacher, and today we're bringing you
15 of our favorite sustainable houses.
(electronic music)
- [Woman] Number 15.
- [Reacher] Amsterdam based Fiction Factory
is responsible for this modular house,
and I'm seriously bothered by the fact
that I can't have on shipped to the U.S.
Each 55 square foot section is formed by wrapping
24 layers of high-strength cardboard around a mold.
The outside is then covered with a waterproof film,
and a shell of wooden slats to protect it from the elements.
The interior is covered with a formed plywood,
which is also used in separating the living spaces.
Each piece weighs in at 1,100 pounds,
eliminating the need for a foundation once on site.
The modularity allows for a flexible building style
that lets the owner create their house in any fashion,
as there's no limit to the number of sections
that can be connected.
Current pricing on this one will run you
about $34,000 for a three section home.
- [Woman] Number 14.
- [Reacher] This structure,
which is used mostly as a holiday retreat,
was designed to be mobile
due to zoning laws regarding local beach houses.
The owners did this by building it on two wooden sleds,
which allow it to be moved easily over land.
The front wall winches open to form an awning
above large glass doors, which swing open
to reveal a living room, dining area, and kitchen.
Behind the kitchen is the bathroom,
and the children sleeping area,
which consists of three bunk beds.
A loft area above the kitchen houses the main bedroom,
with a wall-mounted ladder that goes from the lower floor
to the roof, which also serves as an observation deck.
Other than the occasional non-recyclable waste,
the structure is self-sustaining,
including a worm tank waste system,
which you don't see too often.
- [Woman] Number 13.
- [Reacher] This project in the Netherlands
started with a piece of agricultural land
that was transformed by planting 70,000 trees,
and building an extremely huge pond for migratory birds.
The elevated structure has a total floor area,
measuring 770,000 square feet.
The open floor plan and rectangular design
allows for almost uninterrupted views
from one end to the other.
This lack of walls allows the glass enclosed structure
to take full advantage of the natural light,
as well as the heat that it creates.
One of the supports for the house also serves
as access to the outside,
leading to a lower level with another living area
and a six car garage.
Power from the house comes from a roof-mounted solar array,
measuring just over 3,000 square feet.
This, along with the thermal recycling
creates an excess of energy
that can be stored for use in cooler months.
- [Woman] Number 12.
- [Reacher] The Zero House is a 650 square foot
microdwelling that can be assembled
almost anywhere in the world in just one day.
It's foundation consists of four ground posts,
allowing it to be constructed
on almost any terrain, including water.
The completely off-grid home can accommodate
four adults in the dual modular setup.
The lower module contains a full size kitchen
and living room, while the upper module
houses two bedrooms and the bathroom.
This one also utilizes the outdoor space
via decks each side,
which sit on the roof of the lower module.
The starting price on this one will run you around $350,000.
- [Woman] Number 11.
- [Reacher] This home, located on a wooded hilltop
above Michigan's Glen Lake, started as a one story cabin,
which morphed into a four story tower
with a smaller footprint.
All total, it offers 1,400 square feet of space,
over three levels, which sit a full level
above the ground on two side walls.
The structure, for lack of a proper description,
is basically a plywood box suspended between metal walls
with some glass thrown into the mix.
The bottom level houses a mudroom and the guest bedroom,
while the level above that has
the main bedroom and bathroom.
The uppermost floor includes the living room,
dining area, and kitchen,
as well as having floor to ceiling windows
that provide an almost uninterrupted view
of the surroundings.
Each level also has it's own separate deck,
providing even more space to enjoy the landscape.
- [Woman] Number 10.
- [Reacher] This small development in Western Australia
sits on a plot of land, which was divided into four lots.
The building process involved using over 90% recycled
construction waste from the previous dwelling,
as well as other demolition sites.
Like most designs of this nature,
each house is set in a way
which allows better temperature control
through cross ventilation and maximizing solar access.
A two kilowatt solar array
provides for the electrical needs,
while still creating and excess of energy,
which adds to the carbon positive nature of the home.
Dual plumbed rainwater tanks
flow to the toilets and washing machines,
as well as providing water for the landscaping.
The floor plans are laid out to increase flexibility
and adaptability for longterm use,
allowing for minimal changes
when reconfiguring the internal structure.
This approach not only provides a multi-generational home,
but also creates a space that can be turned into
it's own self-contained living area if needed.
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- [Woman] Number nine.
- [Reacher] This A-frame prototype is located
on an island just outside the Helsinki city center.
Nolla, which is Finnish for zero,
is named for the cabin's purpose
of getting visitor to live using less,
while spending more time focusing on the outdoors.
The 107 square foot cabin is built
from sustainable materials,
and functions entirely using renewable energy.
Inside you'll find a space the size of a small bedroom,
which contains two beds and a small cooking area
with a stove that's used for heating as well.
Electrical needs are supplied by roof-mounted solar panels,
but running water is not available.
This is supplied by a well,
with bathing being done in the sea.
The cabin is available for rent through Airbnb,
with all proceeds from the rent
going toward the ocean clean-up project.
- [Woman] Number eight.
- [Reacher] This zero energy home,
from Missouri based Acre Designs,
was first introduced in Spring of 2016
when the company's co-founders decided
to give their first prototype an 18 month test run.
Named the Axiom House, each one is built from a template,
which shortens the estimated build time
to half that of a normal home of comparable size.
There are two models to choose from,
the Series A, which has a more traditional look,
and the Series B, which fits more into a modern setting.
Employing a modular design that includes around 40 systems,
which monitor the hvac, security, water and lighting,
the company estimates a reduction
in household energy consumption by up to 90%.
Currently offering a total of nine floor plans,
the Series A and Series B have starting prices
of $470,000 and $440,000 respectively.
- [Woman] Number seven.
- [Reacher] What began as an entry in eco-house competition
has now evolved into a structure
providing a use for several different applications.
The Passive Pod employs the latest
in passive house standards,
having such features as seasonally oriented
floor to ceiling windows, a hybrid solar roof
that generates 4.2 kilowatts at peak power,
and a rainwater harvesting system.
The compact form, which is prefabricated off site,
utilizes the minimum amount
of surface area required for the home.
The open plan of the ground floors sits in stark contrast
to the upper floor, which contains four bedrooms,
2.5 bathrooms, and a laundry room.
The centrally located staircase also serves a dual purpose
by promoting ventilation and natural light
via the skylight at the top.
The company is currently seeking
investment capital for prototypes,
with an estimated build date sometime in 2019.
- [Woman] Number six.
- [Reacher] There's something about sustainability
and a waterside location that seemed to have a connection,
and this villa on an island just outside of Amsterdam
is no exception.
The exterior of the building is covered
with a white ribbed aluminum that aids in cooling the house,
which has a living space measuring
just over 3,200 square feet between the two floors.
The interior has a contrasting nature,
employing such materials as untreated steal,
and 200 year old wood.
The main floor has floor to ceiling
sliding glass doors in the rear,
which open up to the kitchen.
Moving forward from that is the living room,
with a wood burning fire place,
and a stairwell, which leads to the upper level.
The top floor houses the bedrooms and bathrooms,
as well as the 377 square foot terrace,
providing uninterrupted views of the gardens and waterway.
This house, like most of it's kind,
isn't connected to the local power grid.
Instead, it utilizes thermal recycling,
solar panels, and highly efficient forms
of insulated material, such as triple pane windows.
- [Woman] Number five.
- [Reacher] This eco-friendly housing unit
is another of the modular prefabs
that can be built around the needs of the owner.
Each one has a floor space composed of a wooden veranda,
measuring 270 square feet,
and an interior measuring 388 square feet.
A large sliding glass door opens up to a main room
that contains the living room,
and a fully equipped kitchenette with an island.
A sliding door opens off of that
to a bedroom with a double bed.
On the opposite side of the main room,
is a second bedroom containing two twin beds.
Behind that is a full bathroom with a standup shower.
The photos that you've seen here are from a design
currently being used for bungalows on a beach in Greece.
If anyone would like more information,
I'm willing to go see firsthand
how awesome they actually are,
strictly for scientific purposes of course.
- [Woman] Number four.
- [Reacher] This next entry, called the Zero Home,
seems to employ every eco-friendly option
available when building a house.
It includes five bedrooms and 3.5 baths,
as well as a four car garage with a charging station.
Starting at the top, the roof has 10 kilowatts
of solar panels that provide electricity
and help heat tankless water heaters.
The windows don't open, which creates an air-tight structure
that requires the use of a ventilation system
that continuously replaces the inside air with outside air.
The kitchen utilizes all Energy Star appliances,
while a wall-mounted LED is used for home automation.
The company currently offers these homes
starting around $350,000.
- [Woman] Number three.
- [Reacher] This come in castle Germany
is part of an ecological development
started in the early 1990s.
The honeycomb design of this 2,325 square foot home
is composed of a series of seven domed rooms
built from bricks, timber, and clay.
These clay coils, which are formed from cotton hoes
filled with loam, are then stacked and shaped as needed.
Like any normal home, this one has your standard rooms,
with each one branching off from the central dome.
The living room has built-in
arch seating areas in the walls,
while a sunroom in the rear opens up to a back garden.
This, along with domed skylights in the home sod roof,
create an exterior that is not only unassuming
to the environment, but complimentary to the interior.
- [Woman] Number two.
- [Reacher] The nature inspired Yin and Yang house
is also located in castle Germany,
though it's a far cry and style from our earlier mud house.
The design incorporates a rooftop garden,
composed of a system of planters and greenhouses,
which allow the owners to grow a full selection of herbs,
fruits, and vegetables,
while the shape of the roof
helps channel rainwater for irrigation.
The home's interior provides 807 square feet
of living space over two levels.
Floor to ceiling windows surround a ground floor
that contains a single car garage,
the master bedroom, and an open kitchen and dining area.
The upper floor has a large office,
and the upstairs living room, which has access to the roof.
Construction on this one started around mid-2018,
but as of yet, there's no word on pricing.
So how do you feel about sustainable living?
Do you think it's worth it over the longterm?
Let us know in the comments
what your view is on these homes,
and what you think the next step is moving forward.
- [Woman] Number one.
- [Reacher] This oddly unique structure
is a collaborative effort between architects,
experts, and companies from over 20 different countries.
It's called the FabLab House,
and it was designed to utilize the natural resources
of water, wind, and sun,
along with the control systems at hand
to optimize the living environment.
It has two entrances, a doorway on the side,
which opens to a long sloping walkway,
and a large opening at one end of the structure.
Upon entering, you'll find an open floor plan,
which includes a social area,
a loft bedroom above the bathroom, a small kitchen,
and a main sleeping room on the opposite end.
The whole structure is elevated on three separate supports,
creating a shaded space underneath for outdoor activities.
The flexible solar panel array can be arranged and adapted
for the changing seasons to maximize it's energy output,
allowing it to create up to three times
the energy the house consumes.
It's currently marketed in sizes
all the way up to just over 1,000 square feet,
with a current starting price of $52,000.
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- Hey guys, this is Cassie,
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