Terrain

This place is enchanted and I am going there next week...

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First Light by Victoria University of Wellington

In 2011, US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon has held the contest of home design with energy as the main category. Victoria University of Wellington has participated home design, called First Light for the entrance. Efficient in energy is a goal to this home design beside façade and other aspects as its consideration.

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High Performance & Energy Efficient Home, ENJOY HOUSE by Team New Jersey

ENJOY HOUSEhas been completed by Team New Jersey for participating US Department of energy solar decathlon in 2011. A main concept of this home design is to build a home with high performance and using energy efficiently so that its design applies some technologies.

This home’s design features many special part for an affordable, functional, energy-efficient house suited to the climate of New Jersey such as, concrete panel in all roof, wall, and floor, perforation, and a rainwater collector called inverter-hip roof. And the technologies in this house such as, an evacuated solar thermal tubes (able to heat domestic hot water and preheating for the hydronic radiant floor), Fiberglass-framed windows, a 9-kW photovoltaic system with target output of 36 kWh, energy recovery ventilators and dehumidifiers. Photo by JimTetro.com

ENJOY House by Team New Jersey:

“Team New Jersey's entry for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, ENJOY House, suggests a new way of approaching high-performance, energy-efficient residential design. Cutting-edge fabrication techniques meet the age-old technology of concrete in its intelligent design. The roof's invertedhip shape is calibrated for optimal solar energy and rainwater collection, contributing to an architecture informed by performance criteria.

Design Philosophy

The ENJOY House integrates passive strategies, new solar technologies, and contemporaryarchitectural ideas. Built of pre-cast concrete insulated panels, the house requires littleupkeep compared with traditional stick-frame materials. The highly insulated buildingenvelope and passive solar strategies significantly reduce heating and cooling loads.

Features

Team New Jersey aims to create an affordable, functional, energy-efficient house suited tothe climate of New Jersey. To accomplish these goals, the ENJOY House features:

Concrete panels in all roof, wall, and floor assemblies that use varied casting processes

Perforations that allow for daylighting and dramatically improve thermal performance

An inverted-hip roof that allows for rainwater collection.

Technologies

ENJOY House incorporates strategic technologies, including:

Evacuated solar thermal tubes that heat domestic hot water and provide preheating for the hydronic radiant floor

Fiberglass-framed windows that are high-performing, energy-efficient, and durable

A 9-kW photovoltaic system with a target daily electric output of 36 kWh

Energy recovery ventilators and dehumidifiers that keep cool air inside the house while providing fresh air from outside.

Market Strategy

The ENJOY House is intended for a couple that retires to the Jersey shore. With a retiree's needs in mind, the team has designed a 960-ft² (89-m²) house that is ADA-accessible. Team New Jersey has integrated universal design principles into its architecture to create a house that is accessible to people of all ages and levels of mobility.

What's Next

Nonprofit organizations in New Jersey as well as private homebuilders have expressed interest in taking possession of the ENJOY House after the competition. Team New Jersey hopes to determine the house's final destination before the start of Solar Decathlon 2011.”

Solar Homestead by APPState University

This modern home design, called Solar Homestead has fully designed by Appalachian State University for participating US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in 2011. The features of this home design are the high technologies that applied for its energy supply.

Inspired by traditional Appalachian settlements is called Solar Homestead.  It’s a traditional settlement lifestyle that is combined with modern clean-energy technology. There are six outbuilding modules connect to form the Great Porch. House featurestwo bedrooms, a day-lit bathroom, energy-efficient appliances, and a versatile living and dining area, also includes an independent flex space that can be used as a home office, art studio, or guest quarters and 8.2-kW trellis of bifacial solar cells on outdoor living space. The Solar Homestead house has forty-two bifacial photovoltaic panels to provide solar energy, on-demand solar thermal domestic hot water system provide constant water temperature, and a trombe wall that can store heat and release it at night. This house was designed for residents of Asheville, North Carolina by Appalachian State Universityand participated in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.

Passive Home Design, PerFORM[D]ance House by Florida International University

Passive design strategy increases this home value, this home design applies some home technologies and features make it more efficient in energy using. Its Interior design mostly combines in white and widely constructed that provides more space and remembers to the suitable with exterior.

Inspired of Paul Rudolph’s Cocoon House, it incorporates lightness and open spatial. It also incorporates tropical design including louvers, flat roof and expansive horizontally. The unique house features such as operable louvers that protect against hurricane-force winds, a fully retractable glazing system and an exterior deck, and Bio-remediating beds. And some technologies and strategies include cross ventilation, shading canopy, a ductless air conditioning system, system automation (sensors, timers, and remote controls), monitoring capabilities, a reflective white exterior. This house’s design was created by team of Florida International University solardecathlon.fiu.edu as an entry of U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.

perFORM[D]ance House by Florida International University:

Team website: solardecathlon.fiu.edu

"Florida International University's U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 entry, the perFORM[D]ance House, responds to its environment, its inhabitants, and its use. Its open pavilion design links the interior with the exterior through a layered façade and integrated landscape, and operable louver panels open to extend the interior space and expand the livable space to the exterior. The ever-changing configuration is driven by environmental conditions, resulting in an interactive performance that showcases sustainable strategies and technologies.

Design Philosophy

The design of the perFORM[D]ance House incorporates lightness and open spatial continuity reminiscent of Paul Rudolph's Cocoon House. The house incorporates key elements of tropical design, including louvers, a continuous flat roof, and an expansive horizontality.

Features

The perFORM[D]ance House features:

·         Operable louvers that raise and lower as needed for privacy, shading, and protection against hurricane-force winds

·         A fully retractable glazing system on the windows that provides relief from the heat and humidity of South Florida

·         An exterior deck with a garden and biofiltration pond

·         Bio-remediating beds that treat storm-water runoff collected from the roof using native landscaping that filters sediment, reduces runoff, and oxygenates water.

Technologies

Florida International University's house is an elegant hybrid of technology and design that achieves livability and sustainability using:

·         Passive design strategies such as natural cross-ventilation, canopy shade devices, and daylighting to reduce demand on mechanical systems

·         A ductless air conditioning system that uses micro-climate zoning to increase comfort while decreasing load

·         Sensors, timers, and remote controls to provide system automation that increases efficiency and reduces operation and maintenance costs

·         A weather station with monitoring capabilities that allows homeowners to monitor energy production and use, solar panel performance, and water consumption

·         A reflective white exterior to reduce cooling demand.

Market Strategy

The perFORM[D]ance House was designed for a Hispanic-American couple whose children are off in college. Juan Gonzalez is a self-employed contractor and green building advocate. Alice Gonzalez is a former art history professor who has an illness that requires her to use a wheelchair. These empty-nesters have always wanted to retire to the sunny, subtropical climate of Miami, Florida.

What's Next

After the house returns from Solar Decathlon 2011, it will be installed on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus of Florida International University in Miami. The perFORM[D]ance House will support the university's Office of Sustainability by serving as a visitor center pavilion and promoting the university's mission for sustainability."

Home with Self Abilities, Solar Roofpod by CCNY

This modern house designed for urban style that adaptable in the various situations mostly in the big city. So, the architecture and design of this house was built with independent abilities.

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Less Energy Home Design, EmPowerHouse by Parsons

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New but Old Bone Inlay Sphere

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

I have found this black and white sphere on a flea market. What could be a better fit into my black and white   world. Well, cost of it was also quite attractive. 0.75$ 

I like garage and yard sales more and more. It is amazing what you can find there. And of course, everything is a bargain. And even if a dollar or two is too much, you still can negotiate. 

I scored big today - I also bought a crystal carafe for only $5. I will photograph it some other time and post it here. 

Have a nice weekend.

Maya

What is it?

I just bought this at the local yard sale right after I dropped off my daughter at school. I think it is wooden oil pot, but I am not sure. What do you think? 

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

 Guess the price. Five bucks. That is it! That is a good Friday to me. I scored!

My Vegetable Garden

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya

Photo by Maya