Yale University\’s Center for Architectural Ecosystems (CEA) and the UN-HABITAT program presented a project for houses that generate their own energy: self-sufficient houses.
CEA consists of an inquiry that seeks ways to a generate clean energy through from renewable sources such as water, air or other materials.
For this project, they called on Gray Organschi Architecture to create an Eco Living Module in New York City. After the investigation, they found a solution consisting of a mini energy self-sufficient house. The mini house of 22 square meters is self-sufficient. What does this mean? Well, it is able to generate power by itself without having to resort to external power or electricity.
How do energy autonomous houses work?
The first of your systems is yours solar roofwhat the it absorbs sunlight and turns it into electricity to operate the light and electrical appliances in the house.
It also has an environmental water harvesting system that stores all rainwater and even environmental humidity to generate potable water.
Another of the most curious features is the green interior wall. This wall purifies the air, and an external wall acts as a base for micro-cultivation, thus generating a good climate in the house without the need to install air conditioning.
Only 1% of household materials contain toxic semiconductors and correspond to photovoltaic system of the roof.
All these systems work for produces more energy than is consumedturning this small house into a benefit for the environment and an economy for the tenant.
Dean of Yale University, Deborah Berke, explains how conventional architecture needs to be reinvented to build buildings and homes that help us care for the environment and create a more sustainable and economical way of life. Science advances and our lives must advance with it.
Over 1 billion people live in homes that aren\’t Environmentally friendly and use non-renewable energypolluting and causing higher economic costs.
The UN has detected an impact on urban growth in many parts of the world and has therefore raised the challenge of ensuring that these new builds are really useful for people and our planet, because currently only 40% of the total resources of the entire planet are used.
Finally, the main objective of the UN program is work for a better urban futurepromoting sustainable architecture with self-sufficient houses.