The Solar Winds Habitat
The Solar Winds Habitat is a conceptual proposal for a new kind of human habitat that merges art and architecture. It was designed to accommodate the off the grid needs of three families. Solar cells and wind turbines that convert sunlight and wind into electricity would provide all of the families power requirements. That electricity would be stored in batteries for nighttime use. Rainwater would also be collected, stored, and recycled for domestic purposes. Communal vegetable gardens would be installed around the structure and some plants would be grown on the structure itself.
The basic structure consists of a large lower communal space, three large private apartments, and a large communal top deck space. Each of the apartments is equipped with energy efficient lighting, appliances, and water conserving and recycling facilities. Large sliding glass doors and a curved shaped private deck will also be part of each apartment. The private decks will be equipped with plant growing facilities. An open carport with electric vehicle charging stations for the occupants has also been incorporated into the design of the habitat.
Seven large solar panel arrays and two large (quiet) vertical axis wind turbines have been integrated into the design of the structure. It is anticipated that far more electricity will be generated from the solar cells and wind turbines than is normally needed by the occupants. That extra electricity will be sold to the local community giving the occupants additional ongoing income as compensation for their original apartment purchase investment.
The occupants of the Solar Winds Habitat will actually be living in a kind of solar/wind power plant that aesthetically celebrates the integration of alternative energy gathering and storage systems into the built environment.
Status: Unbuilt
