The self-sufficient Gut Feeling house produces more electricity than it uses

This narrow rental home, nestled in Oberaudorf — a village in Bavaria, Germany — is the perfect place to refuel and find inspiration. Architect Markus Eck designed the house, named Gut Feeling, as a green  vacation home suitable for two people. With solar panels, which produce more electricity than the home uses, and a heat recovery system that circulates fresh air, the home embraces sustainability while keeping guests comfortable all year long. The house exemplifies simplicity using natural building materials . On the ground floor, there is a small garage, a kitchen, a dining area and a living room. On the second floor, there is a bedroom and bathroom. The third floor houses additional space for guests to sleep and a freestanding bathtub. Both the interior and exterior of the home are clad in timber. In order to create more space, the architect included a terrace on two sides of the building. Residents may also enjoy outstanding views thanks to the large sliding doors that lead out to the terraces. Related: 7 charming off-grid homes for a rent-free life Eck also included sustainable features, such as s olar panels , which produce more electricity than the home uses, and a heat pump , which collects any extra heat in two large buffers. When the sky is cloudy, the home uses 100 percent green energy provided by a hydroelectric power station at a nearby inn. To maintain a steady, comfortable temperature and allow fresh air to circulate year-round, the home relies on built-in sensors and a heat recovery system . + Markus Eck Architekt Via Dwell Photos by Florian Holzherr

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The self-sufficient Gut Feeling house produces more electricity than it uses

The 60k tiny house of the future can be controlled with a smartphone

Most tiny homes are built with the simple life in mind, so what to do if you love technology as much as you love tiny living? Fear not, tech fans, your ship – er, trailer – has come in. Oregon-based Covo Tiny House Co just released the Covo Mio, a super-compact 60k dwelling packed to the rafters in smart home gadgets. Covo Mio is pretty much the smartest tiny house around. It comes with smart lighting, door locks, and a Bluetooth sound system, all controlled via your smartphone. It also has USB charging outlets, a TV, a sit-stand desk, a smart Nest thermostat and, of course, an Amazon Echo. There’s also a huge awning window, giving the space the feel of a luxury home in a compact footprint. Related: Cover’s $50k algorithmic tiny houses are 80% more efficient than conventional homes   Of course, the Mio also includes the essentials, like a cooktop, oven, shower, sofa, AC/heat, and eating bar. It comes with a standard RV-hookup toilet, but you can upgrade to a compost toilet. There are two lofts: one for sleeping and one that is about the right size for storage. Outside, there is a nice-sized storage locker and it can be outfitted with solar panels for off-grid living.   All told, the home offers about 330 square feet of living space in a 26-foot long trailer and starts at $60,000. Of course, depending on how many gadgets and upgraded finishes you pack into your techie tiny home, you can end up closer to $100,000. If you prefer design over technology, Covo also offers the Amica model, which is as stylish as the Mio is smart. + Covo Tiny House Co

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The 60k tiny house of the future can be controlled with a smartphone

Tiny prefab home is a dreamy off-grid retreat on the island of Crete

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Tiny prefab home is a dreamy off-grid retreat on the island of Crete

Couple turns a 40-foot-tall fire lookout into a spectacular off-grid home

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Couple turns a 40-foot-tall fire lookout into a spectacular off-grid home

The Skyline hotel in Battersea Power Station project will feature stunning infinity pool

The latest development in the upcoming Battersea Power Station project is the addition of a hotel’s rooftop infinity pool which overlooks the Thames riverbank. Fosters + Partners and Frank Gehry released phase three plans for the surrounding London structures earlier this year and each new detail makes the project seem more and more exciting. The infinity pool is the cherry on top of the swanky Skyline hotel. Read the rest of The Skyline hotel in Battersea Power Station project will feature stunning infinity pool

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The Skyline hotel in Battersea Power Station project will feature stunning infinity pool

Solar-powered Sustainer Homes give you the freedom to live anywhere

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Solar-powered Sustainer Homes give you the freedom to live anywhere

Google’s Project Sunroof helps homeowners evaluate their own solar potential for free

Google has long focused on recognizing opportunities and seizing them. In its latest venture, Project Sunroof , the mega tech giant is taking that notion a step further by helping homeowners see and take advantage of opportunities —namely, the potential for solar power generation on their own rooftops. Project Sunroof allows users to punch in their address and get real (and rather sophisticated) illustrations of how many solar panels can be installed on their home and how much savings could be realized by taking the solar plunge. Read the rest of Google’s Project Sunroof helps homeowners evaluate their own solar potential for free

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Google’s Project Sunroof helps homeowners evaluate their own solar potential for free

Beautiful bakery in Ukraine brings back the look and familiarity of old European patisseries

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Beautiful bakery in Ukraine brings back the look and familiarity of old European patisseries

New solar panel coating could improve efficiency by more than 30 percent

Researchers at University of California Riverside have created a coating for solar panels that could improve solar photovoltaic efficiency by 30 percent or more. “The infrared region of the solar spectrum passes right through the photovoltaic materials that make up today’s solar cells,” explained Christopher Bardeen, a professor of chemistry. “This is energy lost, no matter how good your solar cell.” The new coating developed by the team essentially reshapes the solar spectrum, allowing this energy to be captured and converted into electricity. Read the rest of New solar panel coating could improve efficiency by more than 30 percent

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New solar panel coating could improve efficiency by more than 30 percent

Ecocapsule lets you live off-the-grid anywhere in the world

Read the rest of Ecocapsule lets you live off-the-grid anywhere in the world Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “wind power” , Ecocapsule , Ecocapsule by Nice Architects , egg shaped architecture , egg-shaped house , micro shelter , nice architects , off grid house , off-grid architecture , portable house , rainwater collection , Solar Power , tiny house

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Ecocapsule lets you live off-the-grid anywhere in the world

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