RSS FeedMar 21 2009
The Solar Home — An Eco-Friendly, Modern Houseboat Design
The SolarHome is an eco-friendly, 75 square meter houseboat design created by UK-based Mark Kingsley Architects. The working model of the SolarHome is currently located in the Lusatian Lakelands in Germany.
The houseboat uses solar energy and has two different modes of operation–Docked mode and Self-sufficient. In Docked mode, it draws fresh water and power from its moorage. In Self-Sufficient mode, it’s a self-contained unit and can supposedly operate for 6-12 months at a time.
(Unfortunately, I have no information on it’s water catchment and management system, nor how it handles sewage. Presumably it must have some sort of containment system for the later.)
The designers are quick to say it offers all the modern amenities one might want and that they are willing to design customized homes.
Credit for the discovery of this groovy little house goes to James, who is rapidly becoming my unofficial researcher for potential articles. (I have to confess, though, that of all his finds, the river shanty and its colorful inhabitants featured earlier this week is still my favorite.)
The SolarHome is an eco-friendly, 75 square meter houseboat design created by UK-based Mark Kingsley Architects. The working model of the SolarHome is currently located in the Lusatian Lakelands in Germany.
The houseboat uses solar energy and has two different modes of operation–Docked mode and Self-sufficient. In Docked mode, it draws fresh water and power from its moorage. In Self-Sufficient mode, it’s a self-contained unit and can supposedly operate for 6-12 months at a time.
(Unfortunately, I have no information on it’s water catchment and management system, nor how it handles sewage. Presumably it must have some sort of containment system for the later.)
The designers are quick to say it offers all the modern amenities one might want and that they are willing to design customized homes.
Credit for the discovery of this groovy little house goes to James, who is rapidly becoming my unofficial researcher for potential articles. (I have to confess, though, that of all his finds, the river shanty and its colorful inhabitants featured earlier this week is still my favorite.)
There seems to be a lot more interest in float homes and cabins lately. We love living in our cabin on a cedar log float up Powell Lake, but I know how hard, even here, it is to get cedar logs any more. The new designs don’t use them, so it is easier to get things started. I just saw the river shanty video over at the the Tiny House Blog. It is great and gives me ideas for something I could put together about my place to share on my blog. I really enjoy reading your posts. Thanks so much. – Margy
Margy, I hear you on the cedar logs. I was careful to salvage as many of the ones in my float as I could when it was rebuilt. Thankfully, there seem to be some developments in new float options, like concrete (not that concrete doesn’t come with its own environment concerns).
I’m a big fan of your blog, by the way. I love the pictures and details of daily living on your site.
Steph