Tech | January 28, 2010 | 12 comments

PreFab Off-Grid Zero Houses Now Ready!

source: http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/all/4467-PreFab-Off-Grid-Zero-Houses-Now-Ready?f=true

Image
HGreenwood
Two years ago, the zeroHouse hit the internet like a tornado. Now, Specht Harpman, the firm that designed the off-grid, modular, tiny house, is looking for a "visionary" to finance the construction of the prototype at something in the range of $300,000 to $350,000. The good news comes from the American-Statesman, which recently reported that the design is "shovel-ready."

According to the American-Statesman, Specht Harpman used seed money from a New York investment firm to create architectural, structural, and mechanical engineering documents. Now the zeroHouse is ready to be built, and the idea with the first home is to push the boundaries of sustainability.

The zeroHouse can be net-zero energy -- it'll generate as much energy in the course of a year as it consumes. It can also operate without the need for any external utility or waste disposal connects.

Several more cool pics at link!
  1. groups:
    Tech,   Green,   Architecture,   Sustainable Energy
  2. tags:
    Environment,  Sustainability,  Architecture,  House,  3 more
  3.     
    |

12 comments // PreFab Off-Grid Zero Houses Now Ready!

  • gelillc
  • Gravity_Man
    • 0
      Gravity_Man  

    • Detroit building expensive cars, Spectr Harpman expensive homes. I take it I'm soon going to have an income? Oh, that's right, the recession's over too. We know it's over because the cost of homes and cars is going up!

    • 11 months ago
  • artemis6
  • Gravity_Man
    • 0
      Gravity_Man  

    • Pre-fabricated homes was originally supposed to cut costs. The last time I saw a squarish home like that was the one in the Wizard of Oz as it went flying up in the tornado. Hmm, my home design withstands tornadoes so I guess I can charge $500,000. Yes, Bailey!, I understand now. Put a high price and sell MORE.

    • 2 years ago
  • inspirationseeker
    • 0
      inspirationseeker  

    • If you read the article the $300,000 is the cost to make the prototype. The price will definitely be a lot lower when it goes into mass production. $100,000, even $200,000 for a completely self-sufficient "green" house is completely worth it. Especially when you think of the exotic locations that you could live since there is no need for any sort of utility infrastructure. This is kick ass!!

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • Gravity_Man
    • 0
      Gravity_Man  
    • JanforGore:

      I concur with you Jan. This home design looks like an old BOX KITE I had once. Since it is a "Home Design" I don't believe it is required to pass any Wind Tunnel tests.

      Last week was fantastic Jan. Had a major brainstorm how to build a gigantic Space Elevator right on up many thousands of feet in height. It is a Self-Building Design, builds itself from within straight up A SPIRAL HIVE SHAPE.

      We can start construction soon after Jesus cleans up this mess on the floor we call a civilization.

    • 2 months ago
  • Weepowopo
  • Sam_the_Wizer
    • 0
      Sam_the_Wizer  

    • I think they're looking for an investment of ~$300k so that they can build a prototype. When it goes into assembly-line production costs will come down quite a bit.

    • 2 years ago
  • BohoZombie
    • 0
      BohoZombie  

    • I guess it's a good idea for people who live alone but this home would never work for a family. If the cost for the prototype is the same as what a buyer would have to invest I'm not sure it will catch on. we need green housing that is AFFORDABLE.

    • 2 years ago
  • bailey78
    • 0
      bailey78  

    • $300,000 are you kidding me thats five times what that house shoud cost. Thats the problem with trying to do the right thing and go green it cost so much. How can the average person do this. Thats how someone is going to make it big in the green house market. To build a green house that is both easy on the wallet and green. Untill then it's just rich boy toys. So they can set up a fishing and hunting camp any where they want

    • 2 years ago
  • mink_Stacktrane
    • 0
      mink_Stacktrane  

    • Not diggin' the cost, homie! You could build it for much (much) less, compromise the "greenness" of your materials, but get more people to catch on and save the whales that way.

    • 2 years ago
more from Tech:
from the community

top videos