If you wish to see nature, aesthetics, functionality and sustainability under one roof then you must visit the Natural Fusion. The 800-square-foot newly constructed house in Central Pennsylvania is the work of Penn State’s Solar Decathlon team. It incorporates an ingenious design that includes features like solar panels, a green roof and eco-friendly flooring.
Natural Fusion is the first residential project to use the Solyndra cylindrical photovoltaics that are capable of capturing a greater amount of sunlight throughout the day as compared to the conventional flat panels, which can trap the most intense sunlight during mid-day. The building also incorporates a system known as Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaics, which allows the home to operate at higher efficiency by using a green roof under the solar panels.
The zero-emission home has unique and functional technology installed throughout. It has a system that collects heat from the sun and distributes it through the house without using controls or pumps, making it maintenance free. Apart from the hi-tech innovations, it also has wood siding from an old reclaimed Pennsylvania barn to use as the home’s flooring. Adding to the aesthetics of the home is an indoor garden with herbs and other plants that can go into the kitchen for cooking purposes.
Constructed for the Department of Energy-sponsored competition, the house will flaunt its green credentials from October 9 to October 18 at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Natural Fusion will be open for public display on September 25 from 6 p.m. at its existing location at the southwest end of Innovation Boulevard in Innovation Park.
Via: PSU
The possibilities are endless and shovel-ready - it’s the political will that is missing. People need to fight hard for an energy future owned and controlled by us which does not destroy our planet, including our open spaces, and which does not re-entrench Big Energy monopolists.
