The British architecture firm ZED Factory came up with a clever concept for a solar-powered home, which would be installed over existing parking lots to build sustainable communities and help combat the urban housing shortage. The idea behind it is to utilize the space taken up by parking lots, which is often quite large.
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The company LivingHomes has launched their first sustainable, LEED platinum prefab home back in 2013. They have also partnered with the non-profit Make It Right organization and architect William McDonough with whom they have created the so-called C6 home, which is an affordable LEED Platinum certified home, which also meets the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star standard.
The Prefabricated Accessible Technological Homes (or P.A.T.H.) are high-end, luxury prefab homes, which are capable of producing more energy that they require. These homes were created by French designer and architect Philippe Starck in collaboration with Slovenian prefabricated housing specialist Riko. The two partners are selling these homes under the name “Starck with Riko”.
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One of eight winners of the 2013 R+D Awards that were presented by ARCHITECT magazine, the ecoMOD Project is an effort of project teams at the University of Virginia (UVa) to work with affordable housing organization in the creation of low-impact, energy-efficient housing units. Project teams are made up of UVa faculty and students of various disciplines that have collaborated on the design, build, and evaluation of twelve housing units that are located on eight sites.
Vermont-based Vantem Panels, one of the United States’ first producers of SIPs (structural insulated panels) and one of three American producers of urethane panels, has released the first affordable net-zero energy kit homes: SmartHomze.
With an estimated $150 per square foot cost of construction (not including permits, site work, or foundation), SmartHomze are significantly more affordable than typical green homes that range between $200 and $250 per square foot and more in line with construction costs for an average new home that doesn’t include sustainability features.
No Rules Just Architecture has created DOM(E), an prefabricated off-grid home that is an eco-friendly and portable shelter. DOM(E) provides optimal living conditions no matter where it is located and is less expensive than traditional construction, while making the best use of natural energy resources.
