- [Reacher] Hey, everyone. The seasons are changing, and
nothing says free energy like the sun.
This is Reacher with Minds Eye Design, and here are 10 solar
homes that are the future of architecture.
(zapping sounds)
Number 10.
Anyone with access to a news feed can attest to
the constant drought issues plaguing California.
In addition to various water conservation methods,
the state has now implemented a plan to have all newly
constructed homes be Z-N-E, or zero net energy compliant,
starting in 2020.
This 900 square foot prototype, simply named "Our House",
was built using sheet-metal framing, bamboo and wood from
trees killed in the last drought.
Its purpose is to address the issues at hand by offering a
Z-N-E home that is both water and energy efficient,
yet still desirable for both urban and rural living.
Water conservation is achieved using a state-of-the-art
system for collecting and sanitizing grey water.
Consumption is monitored and analyzed, which allows the
system to offer feedback on usage to influence occupants
to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
Energy is stored in the house's integrated batteries, while
an energy management system controls the power use.
Although this keeps with the ideas of conservation and
sustainability, it only touches upon the final product,
as no details are currently available.
(upbeat electronic music)
Number nine.
I would consider getting into this house based on
one fact alone. It was inspired by LEGO.
This highlights the most important aspect of the design.
Its modularity.
Selficient is a concept home that can be easily assembled,
disassembled, and reassembled through the use of
standardized interchangeable panels
for the walls, flooring and roof.
These smart panels, which are composed of
bio-based materials, can me moved as needed to allow the
owners to easily modify the layout of the home,
and can even be traded between houses.
Photovoltaic panels generate power for the home, while any
residual energy can be shared with others or
delivered back to the network.
Tubes in the floor carry warm water, which heats the floor
with the temperature being controlled by a heat pump.
In addition, air from an attached greenhouse will help
warm the home in the winter.
The designers are working with various manufacturers,
but so far, putting the house on the market is out of reach.
(peppy digital music)
Number eight.
REACT, which stands for "Resilient Adaptive
Climate Technology", is meant to showcase how a sustainable
future isn't just about designing a better home.
The modular home is oriented around a central courtyard,
called the green core.
This key design feature collects solar heat to aid
the mechanical systems while housing a
hydroponic system to grow edible plants.
It provides a sense of spaciousness and light to the
interior, while also extending the living space, if desired.
A net-zero balance water system recycles grey water and
rainwater for use as potable water.
In addition, the system also regulates irrigation
for any landscaping components.
An automated smart house system collects data to suggest
the best time to perform resource-intensive tasks.
This type of energy modeling is used so residents
can learn to maximize energy generation
while minimizing resource loss.
These passive and active systems aren't
just about sustainability.
They're also about the flexibility to lead a
healthier and affordable lifestyle.
(light techno music)
Number seven.
The realities of aging are something everyone has
considered at one time or another.
This creation may curb any anxieties we feel
in the process of doing so.
Enable House was designed with the elderly and disabled
in mind, even going so far as to meet all requirements
outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Computer-aided design was used to custom build the walls to
eliminate added cost to material waste, while photometric
modeling was used to develop an effective lighting plan.
The design includes roof-integrated solar panels,
an attached sunroom for indoor-outdoor living, and moveable
interior walls to accommodate the occupants' changing needs.
Additional features offer zero-step entrances, a single
floor layout with widened hallways and doorways,
and lever-style handles on the doors and faucets.
20% of the population is projected to be 65 and older
by 2020, so it goes without saying that this is a
much needed concept for those who like the idea
of aging in place.
(light digital music)
Number six.
Silo is a home that combines traditional architecture with
cutting-edge technology for a more relaxed and
eco-friendly way of living.
The name itself is an acronym with each letter representing
a core aspect of the house.
The S is for smart, which refers to the automated system
that maintains things, such as the HVAC, lighting,
window motors and fans.
The I is for innovative and speaks to the sustainable
technologies found throughout, including radiant flooring,
grey water collection, and the batteries for energy storage.
The L is for living. Although everything can manually be
controlled by voice or smartphone, it allows the homeowner
to live at ease, knowing that the systems
are working in tandem autonomously.
The final letter, O, is for oasis.
This is when you combine all of these things with the
clean air, ample sunlight and added greenery to create a
comfortable and efficient living space that feels much
larger than it actually is.
(rhythmic drum beats)
Allright, before you get too caught up in designing your
next home, please be sure to subscribe below.
Also, hit that bell icon to keep up with all the latest
videos from Minds Eye Design.
(light techno music)
Number five.
This home was designed to showcase how concrete
can be used as a viable construction alternative
to wood and other materials.
The Crete House is formed from six precast concrete panels.
To counteract the weight, the panels are composed of
four inches of regular concrete, five inches of insulation,
and one inch of a high performance mixture called ductile.
The ductile is six times stronger than standard concrete,
allowing the panels to be thinner and 30% lighter.
The panels are then bolted together, reducing labor and
material waste, which also allows the house to be
disassembled for future transport, if needed.
The house doesn't contain an HVAC system.
Instead, it relies on thermal mass to warm and cool
the house using water coils embedded within the panels.
In addition to providing shade and housing modular planters,
the shape of the gutters was strategic to the innovative
system of water collection that supplies the all-in-one
hydroponic food growing system.
The home's resiliency against fire, moisture, insects and
extreme weather, offer an alternative that can still be
standing even a century from now.
(light electronic music)
Number four.
This prefab home was designed to be an affordable and
sustainable housing solution, with emphasis on practicality
and logic, rather than elaborate technological systems.
It's named Rise, and it, too, is an acronym.
This one standing for residential, inviting,
stackable, efficient.
The flexible design and customizable features allow for
integration in the larger units that can be stacked like
building blocks up to three stories high.
This innovation creates a structure that can work as a
stand-alone home, but also provide for multiple families.
A movable inner wall system allows for the
transformation of the floor plan to meet the needs
of a wide range of occupants.
Transforming furniture, modular cabinetry and natural
ventilation add to the allure of this home.
The fact that you can fit up to five of these in the
space of a single home makes this a structure that should be
highly sought after in densely populated areas.
(soft digital music)
Number three.
Unlike the other entries on this list,
Neighborhub isn't a house.
It's an eco-friendly structure designed as a collaborative
space for people to discuss issues and participate in
activities as a community.
The goal is to empower local residents to become agents of
change by educating them on sustainable themes, such as
renewable energy, biodiversity, water and waste management,
and material choices.
The outer wall surface supports solar panels to produce
energy for space heating and hot water.
Dry toilets recycle waste for compost, while the water
reclamation system ensures that everything gets reused.
The green roof is used to collect water and grow food
with every surface covered in vegetation,
including plants chosen to attract bees.
There are also two vertical greenhouses, including one with
an aquaponic system that allows for the growing of plants
and breeding of fish in one system.
Neighborhub's use of innovative solutions and
design elements is another example of what is needed
for a sustainable future.
(light digital music)
Number two.
This design intended for retirees attracted to Las Vegas
is aptly named Sinatra Living.
And before you ask, it does not allow you
to live like Sinatra did.
If that were the case, I'd already be there, and you'd have
to find another awesome voice to tell you about it.
The design focuses on three goals, with the home intended
to be a unified solution that can adapt to meet
a person's needs as they age.
The 1st is an open and naturally illuminated interior
encouraging exercise by walking around,
while maximizing visibility.
The 2nd is to provide maximum comfort using a net-zero
energy performance that includes radiant heating, energy
recovery and ductless air-conditioning.
The 3rd is a responsive healthcare environment.
This is done by equipping the structure with smart devices
that can enable communication between occupants, caregivers
and healthcare professionals.
Features such as a fall detection and alert system
add to the safety aspect.
If you, or someone you know, is considering retirement,
then this might be the housing option you're looking for.
(light electronic music)
It's almost time for us to reveal our number one.
Do you agree with the list so far?
We welcome all your opinions and suggestions, so be sure and
let us know what you think in the comments.
(light rhythmic music)
Number one.
Alabama has been struck by more tornadoes than any other
state since 1966, with eight of those tornadoes
classified as F five.
So it only makes sense that a home can not only deal with
the everyday elements, but also protect its
inhabitants in extreme weather.
The house is oriented to maximize solar access and to use
roof planes for shading for the majority of the year.
The large porch is covered with a transparent canopy to
allow natural lighting into the interior living spaces.
A system that dehumidifies the inside air at night reduces
the overall load on the home's AC.
And if you've ever been to Alabama, you'll know why
this is a thing, and why it's important.
Below the home's sub-flooring is a safe room designed in
accordance with FEMA standards.
Another aspect is the home's quick permanence.
This means that it there's damage, the home can be rebuilt
quickly and easily due to its prototype design.
Check out our recent video on storm-chasing vehicles and
you'll see why I'd rather be inside this house
when everything hits.
(soft electronic music)
- Hey guys, this is Cassie.
I hope you enjoyed this video.
Tell us in the comments below what you found to be
the most interesting and why.
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Thank you for watching. I'll see you guys next time.
(lively band music)
♪ Here's tomorrow and I'm holding on ♪
♪ Searching for the lost hero ♪