Build a complete home in just one day andno longer serve it, and most importantly - no utility bills: an ambitious project by American architects. How close to reality it is - we find out in our article ZeroHouse - a project by the Specht Harpman architectural bureau, founded in 1995 by Scott Specht and Louise Harpman, then students of the Yale School of Architecture. The firm has offices in New York and Austin, Texas. The concept, called ZeroHouse, refers to the so-called "solar houses". It is designed to be easily transported and quickly erected. The house functions completely autonomously in different climatic conditions, providing everything necessary for four adults, which distinguishes it from other quick-assembly structures on the market.
Technologies and constructions
What is used in construction:
- foundation: cylindrical stainless steel micro-beads with leveling plates;
- carrier system: steel frame made of tubular cold-rolled profile with powder coating;
- enclosing structures: structural insulating panel system (SIPS) with preliminary external lining;
- thermal insulation: the core of the panel made of closed cell polyethylene foam, metallized panel sheath;
- window systems: low-emissivity two-chamber glass, laminated with SentryGlas film, filled with argon;
- external doors: Kevlar shell of the door with a vacuum seal, insulating filler from the airgel;
- Photoelectric batteries: 40 highly efficient solar panels capable of generating a peak of 7,000 watts;
- energy storage: 36 interlocking sealed lead-acid batteries;
- operating voltage: 48 V directly from the batteries and the standard mains voltage is 115 V;
- illumination: concealed illumination by dimmable LED strips, 100 000 hours of continuous use;
- climate control: a two-zone microsplit system with a heat pump;
- water supply: main storage system - four tanks for 2,082 liters of top position for passive pressure, ultraviolet cleaning and reverse osmosis system;
- waste recycling: an auto-composter with a negative pressure ventilation system, compost must be disposed of every 6 months;
- A tubular steel frame can withstandwinds up to 200 kilometers per hour, solar panels are fixed independently and can be separated under extreme wind loads to prevent damage to the rest of the house.
Architectural and planning solutions
House area:60 square meters for indoor areas, 23 square meters for outdoor terraces. A composition of two perpendicular volumes, the intersection of the first and second floors in the center allows you to place all communications - stairs, risers - in this intersection. The wall-to-wall windows are one of the characteristic elements of this house, they are used in every room, on all sides of the world. This four-sided orientation with large windows is highly atypical for energy-efficient solar homes, which is partly offset by high-tech glazing systems. There is only one bathroom in this house, which is not always convenient for a two-story house. In this project, the first floor is designed as a single space, and the hallway is zoned only conditionally. However, in the case of a colder climate, it will not be difficult to separate it with partitions from both the living room and the kitchen.
Everything for comfort and rest
A huge sofa in the entire living room makes the roomcozy, and the kitchen has enough space for a full dining area and a bar along the window. The view from the windows in this project is generally a full-fledged element of the interior. The kitchen has a full range of appliances, including an induction hob, microwave and full-size refrigerator. The living room has a 42 ″ LCD TV. The solution of the bathroom on the second floor is unusual: it has an exit to a separate terrace with an outdoor shower and sun loungers for sunbathing. The second terrace, shared by the two bedrooms, is equipped for an outdoor breakfast.
Versatility
ZeroHouse can be built almost anywhere:two flatbed trucks deliver the kit to the site and the house can be assembled in less than a day. It can be installed in places unsuitable for conventional construction, including water up to 3 meters deep or slopes up to thirty-five degrees. The design is especially suitable for use in protected areas and in other places where capital construction is not allowed. The security of the house is also high: all windows are laminated with Sentry-Glass to resist penetration. The doors are reinforced from the outside with Kevlar; integrated locking systems are used everywhere. A continuous web monitoring system is also available. 
Our opinion: - The project is sufficiently prepared for Russian conditions, but this architecture is justified only for the southern regions. In more cold latitudes magnificent open terraces sooner or later will be glazed ... The calculation for energy supply from solar panels is also justified only in the south. However, the second trump of this project is the rapid erection and status of the temporary structure - it is truly universal and has significance in any climate and on any relief.
Energy Efficiency
In most cases, calculations show thatZeroHouse is capable of generating electricity in excess of what is required to operate at home. This excess energy can be used for external devices, including charging electric or hybrid vehicles. With ZeroHouse, a life completely free of fossil fuels is possible. Our opinion: - Indeed, autonomy and lack of operating costs are possible and achievable. However, this requires serious investments at the initial stage: for example, a square meter of an effective solar battery costs 11-12 thousand rubles, and the maximum power on a clear sunny day is about 160 watts per square meter. Thus, the cost of photovoltaic cells for 4.5-5 kilowatts will be about 350 thousand rubles, and this is without taking into account inverters and batteries. For the Russian climate, where the main expense item is heating costs, it is most advisable to strengthen thermal insulation and arrange a direct solar heating system ( south-facing glazing + heat accumulators) or liquid solar collectors. Electricity can be obtained in various ways - with photocells, wind generators, even at mini-hydroelectric power stations ... However, in any case, the initial costs will be quite tangible. zerohouse.net
