How the ZeroHouse Operates

Many of us aim to leave a lasting legacy, but today, the focus has shifted to leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible.

In response to the media buzz surrounding soaring oil prices and the looming threat of global warming, more individuals are looking for ways to minimize their personal ecological footprints and reduce their negative impact on the environment. There is a growing sense of economic and environmental responsibility driving the adoption of green technology. Green technology strives to limit environmental damage—reducing waste and cutting down on energy sources that emit greenhouse gases.

Even major corporations are investing heavily in energy-efficient technologies to lessen their environmental impact while boosting their appeal to eco-conscious consumers. Architects are no exception to this trend. Green building, which involves integrating eco-friendly technologies to make structures more energy-efficient and sustainable, continues to gain momentum.

Collection of Home Design Images

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While many buildings today are referred to as sustainable for their reduced dependence on fossil fuels, some designs, like the zeroHouse, are set to transform the concept of green building and outshine their predecessors. The zeroHouse offers an innovative take on sustainability, incorporating cutting-edge green technology to function entirely off the grid (meaning it operates independently of external power sources), drawing solely on the renewable energy from the sun.

Imagine a house that not only saves energy but also has no utility bills to worry about. Picture a sustainable home that doesn’t compromise your comfort in any way. Even better, envision constructing this house in a remote area, completely off the grid, in just one day using only two flatbed trucks of materials.

Read on to discover the fascinating details of this futuristic, green, dream house.

ZeroHouse: No Connections, No Strings Attached

Although still unbuilt, the zeroHouse design won the Texas Society of Architect's Design Award in 2007. Architect Scott Specht from Specht Harpman claims that despite its compact size of just 650 square feet, it can comfortably accommodate four adults. Below are the key specifications:

If you prefer a simple design process, the zeroHouse could be a perfect fit. As a prefabricated house, many furnishings are pre-selected and built-in for the homeowner. These include:

If you prefer to inject your own style into the design, you still have the option to personalize certain aspects of the zeroHouse. For example, you can select your preferred materials and color schemes, including the house’s exterior color.

In addition to other features, the home is equipped with an LED lighting system integrated into the walls and ceilings. These dimmable lights are not only energy-efficient but also produce minimal heat compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, redirecting more energy toward providing light, which conserves energy for other uses.

The building requires minimal upkeep. The exterior panels are made from materials that resist scratches and dents, and they help reduce general wear and tear. The steel frame is treated to prevent corrosion through bonding and powder-coating processes.

The architect takes full advantage of every element of the house to enhance both comfort and efficiency, including the unique exterior design. The structure’s various layers, referred to as modules, are rotated in alternating patterns to offer shade and create decks for the residents.

If you're concerned about security in the zeroHouse, there's no need to worry. Not only does it feature a fully-mortised locking system, but the doors are made with Kevlar—a material five times stronger than steel by weight—while the windows are equipped with SentryGlas for added impact resistance.

Specht designed this home specifically for individuals who want to reduce their ecological footprint and have the financial means to do so. For example, it can serve as a guest house or a luxurious weekend retreat for the affluent. With an estimated price of $350,000 for just 650 square feet, it comes to around $530 per square foot. Specht hopes that as demand grows, the supply will increase, helping to lower the cost of prefabrication [source: Livingston].

Specht aims to have the first zeroHouses constructed by the end of 2008 [source: Livingston]. But how will this house function without relying on power lines? Turn to the next page to discover the answer.

Solar Energy: The Sole Source of Power for the ZeroHouse

One of the most remarkable features of the zeroHouse is its complete reliance on solar energy to power all essential functions. The house collects sunlight through photovoltaic (PV) arrays and solar hot water panels installed on the roof. These arrays and panels contain solar cells, similar to those in a solar-powered calculator. Sunlight arrives in small packets, known as photons, which carry energy. Solar cells capture and convert this energy into usable electricity.

When photons strike the semiconductor material in solar cells, their energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, creating an electric current. The PV array system on the zeroHouse generates electricity from this current, powering various devices like the built-in TV and refrigerator. The house is independent of power plants that rely on fossil fuels and emit harmful greenhouse gases. Moreover, this solar power makes the house ideal for remote areas where power lines are unavailable. The architect boasts that the PV arrays on the zeroHouse are highly durable and maintain their efficiency even after extensive use.

Since the zeroHouse depends on sunlight for energy, you may wonder what happens when the sun isn't shining. How do the TV and refrigerator keep running at night or during cloudy days? The house stores excess solar energy in batteries, ensuring enough power to operate even without direct sunlight. The architect claims that when fully charged, the batteries can keep the house powered for up to a week without any sunlight.

Although the PV panels generate sufficient energy, it's crucial to keep the zeroHouse's energy consumption minimal. To ensure this, the architects have integrated several energy-saving features into the design, with insulation being one of the key elements. We'll explore more about these features on the next page.

Keeping the Heat Out: ZeroHouse Insulation

The zeroHouse achieves nearly all the goals of green technology by operating completely off the grid. This would not be possible without proper insulation. Given the house's prefabricated design, it needs to be adaptable to various climates, both hot and cold. Although the home features highly efficient heating and air conditioning systems, the insulation helps these systems run minimally by preventing heat from entering during hot weather and escaping during cold weather.

The zeroHouse’s structural insulation is made from closed-cell foam, which, unlike open-cell foam, blocks the flow of both vapor and heat. This insulation provides an impressive thermal resistance rating of R-58 for the walls, roof, and floor. The thermal resistance rating measures how well a material resists heat flow, and at R-58, the zeroHouse’s insulation far exceeds the U.S. standard for wall insulation, which typically ranges from R-11 to R-28 [source: EERE].

Every room in the zeroHouse features full-wall windows, so it’s essential that these windows minimize heat flow. These full-wall windows are triple-insulated and use low-e heat-mirror glass. "Low-e" stands for low-emissivity, meaning the glass contains a layer of metallic oxide that restricts heat transfer. The heat-mirror glass reflects invisible heat without reflecting too much visible light.

The architect hasn’t overlooked any detail, even when it comes to the doors. The doors are insulated with vacuum-sealed aero-gel panels. Aero-gel is a substance originally developed by NASA from the same materials as glass, but it’s far less dense — in fact, it’s the lightest solid on Earth [source: Stenger]. It’s also an incredibly effective insulation material.

Thanks to its advanced insulation, the zeroHouse is suited for a wide range of climates. The architect suggests it’s ideal for locations between latitudes 36° N and 36° S year-round, but during the appropriate seasons, it can also comfortably be occupied between latitudes 47° N and 47° S.

The zeroHouse’s plumbing system is highly efficient, utilizing a natural force that’s universally available, renewable, and incredibly cost-effective (in fact, it’s free). Learn more about this energy source on the next page.

Zero Waste for ZeroHouse: Water & Trash

The zeroHouse incorporates eco-friendly technology not only in its energy and insulation systems but also in its approach to water usage and waste management. In line with its resource-conservation goal, the house features a roof-mounted cistern that captures rainwater, holding up to 22,000 gallons. This allows the house to be self-sufficient, even without a direct water supply. The system includes two filters to purify the collected water, making it suitable for drinking. Additionally, a low-flush toilet is installed to reduce water usage by requiring less water to flush compared to traditional toilets.

Gravity is the backbone of the zeroHouse’s plumbing system, harnessing a free and natural force to propel water through low-pressure fixtures. This eco-friendly, non-electric system ensures a steady flow of water without relying on electricity to power pumps [source: West].

The zeroHouse also tackles waste management with innovation. In the U.S., over 200 million tons of solid waste are generated annually, with more than half ending up in landfills [source: EPA]. The zeroHouse team embraces green technology to help reduce waste, including a compost unit placed under the house to collect organic waste, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

Compost units work by transforming organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. The one beneath the zeroHouse operates using the natural processes of bacteria, which thrive when exposed to the right mix of soil, water, and oxygen. Soil contributes essential microorganisms that break down the waste. These microorganisms, including bacteria, consume the organic material, breaking it down into compost. The process requires adequate water and oxygen to keep the microorganisms healthy and active.

The zeroHouse’s compost unit efficiently turns organic waste into fertilizer. According to the architect, this unit only needs to be emptied twice a year under normal usage conditions.

The zeroHouse is more than just efficient; it's intelligently designed. To explore its technological brain and structural foundation, turn to the next page.

It Really Ties the House Together: The ZeroHouse Brain & Anchors

One unique feature that gives the owner full control over the house's functionalities is the "house brain." This system makes the entire home automated, with sensors placed throughout the house to track activities. The brain manages the house's energy consumption and includes a hibernation mode for periods of inactivity. The system is web-based, allowing inhabitants to monitor it remotely via their computers.

The zeroHouse has an environmentally friendly design, not only due to its minimal ecological footprint, but also because its foundational system has very little impact on the land it sits upon. The four helical anchors support the house’s foundation, ensuring stability without disturbing the landscape. The architect designed the foundation to touch the ground at just these four points, making it ideal for locations where disruptive construction is challenging or restricted.

Even though the helical anchors have a minimal effect on the land, the zeroHouse is built to withstand powerful conditions. The anchor system, combined with a tubular steel frame, allows the house to endure winds up to 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour). The anchors also allow the house to safely sit on slopes up to 35 degrees or even in as much as 10 feet of water.

The zeroHouse brings the concept of living off the grid to life. However, critics argue that green technology remains costly and impractical for widespread adoption. Still, for those concerned about global warming, the idea of living independently from energy sources that contribute to greenhouse gases is appealing. Only time will tell if the zeroHouse can meet the demands of its inhabitants, endure tough environments, and overcome skepticism.