Family moves into first net zero Active House in the U.S.
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The interior design also features mostly light-colored surfaces, openly-connected rooms, and glass partitions to make sure whole house can be clearly lit on most days
The Active House is a prototype home sponsored by VELUX, a Danish company that designs products to encourage the use of natural lighting, particularly skylights and windows
Natural lighting features heavily in the Active House, with windows, skylights, and sun tunnels scattered throughout every room
Windows that open are arranged in a straight path upwards, while the rest of the house is sealed airtight, maximizing the flow of fresh air inside
If the Active House proves to be energy efficient in this location, the theory goes, it should work just as well in any other location in the United States
Even with all its sustainable technology and architecture, it was very important to the designers that the Active House blend in perfectly with the surrounding neighborhood
Electricity and hot water are mostly provided by solar power as well, though a natural gas system does act as a backup when needed
Natural lighting features heavily in the Active House, with windows, skylights, and sun tunnels scattered throughout every room
The project was created to promote buildings that have a positive impact on the environment while providing a healthy and comfortable indoor climate for occupants
The majority of the building materials are recyclable, and some were repurposed from a previous structure on the same site
If the Active House proves to be energy efficient in this location, the theory goes, it should work just as well in any other location in the United States
A family recently moved into a prototype Active House, which uses natural lighting and ventilation to reduce its energy consumption
The Active House project was created to promote buildings that have a positive impact on the environment while providing a healthy and comfortable indoor climate for occupants
Natural lighting features heavily in the Active House, with windows, skylights, and sun tunnels scattered throughout every room
The Active House is a prototype home sponsored by VELUX, a Danish company that designs products to encourage the use of natural lighting, particularly skylights and windows
It was very important to the designers that the Active House blend in perfectly with the surrounding neighborhood
Electricity and hot water are mostly provided by solar power as well, though a natural gas system does act as a backup when needed
Maintaining a comfortable temperature also plays a large factor in conserving energy, which is why the Active House's construction centers around natural ventilation and improved insulation
A family recently moved into a prototype Active House, which uses natural lighting and ventilation to reduce its energy consumption while still blending in with the architecture of the surrounding neighborhood
Even with all the sustainable technology and architecture, it was very important to the designers that the Active House blend in perfectly with the surrounding neighborhood
The interior design features mostly light-colored surfaces, openly connected rooms, and glass partitions to make sure whole house can be clearly lit on most days
The Active House's construction centers around natural ventilation and improved insulation
Natural lighting features heavily in the Active House, with windows, skylights, and sun tunnels scattered throughout every room
The Active House project was created to promote buildings that have a positive impact on the environment while providing a healthy and comfortable indoor climate for occupants
The Active House is a prototype home sponsored by VELUX, a Danish company that designs products to encourage the use of natural lighting, particularly skylights and windows
Article Summary
We've seen plenty of impressive net zero houses in the past, from the motion-controlled CHIP House in California to the budget-priced Sosoljip in South Korea. But one issue that seems predominant in most energy-neutral homes is that they typically take on a design that doesn't suit many suburban areas. That may soon change though with the first Active House, which uses natural lighting and ventilation to reduce its energy consumption while still blending in with the architecture of the surrounding neighborhood.
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