Heat without fuel

Closed-loop geothermal heating and cooling systems do not burn any fuel and do not pollute the air. “We’re just absorbing the heat from underground”, says Richard Sansoucy.

A closed-loop geothermal system has two sealed, interconnected pipes that go deep into the ground where natural heat is present. The pipes are installed through a process much like boring into the ground to install a well. Mr. Sansoucy said his system goes 300 feet down.

The system’s pipes carry water and environmentally safe antifreeze or some other suitable liquid. The earth’s heat warms the liquid and a pump circulates it through a duct system inside the house.

Builder

Structural insulated panels

One of the main advantages that a SIP house has over stick framing is energy efficiency.

"The industry says the panels are efficient, easy to assemble, and strong."

But can they produce stylish architecture?


The SIP walls and roof of this custom home handle the complex roofline and the 25-foot great room ceiling.

Despite the large window openings, the natural gas cost per year is much less than average for heating, hot water, and appliances."

Beyond the box at ebuild.com

Spray-on chrome plate?

Perhaps the 'only viable alternative' to traditional electro-chrome plating is liquid chrome available from Fantachrome.

Coatings look like traditional chrome and have a similar feel.

It's water-based but as durable as OEM automotive finishes.

Unlike the traditional chrome plating process, Fantachrome™ is low cost, simple to apply and is an environmentally safe product.

Fantachrome equipment requires unique dual spray guns in a stand alone workstation.

Dealers for the Italian company are appearing around the world and regions seem to be available.

Tunnel through a house

Wouldn't we all want a vortex tunnel through our house to represent where our money goes?

Or as it's said using architectural lingo:

A wildly dynamic conversion of a completely static structure...

An overwhelming urge offset by fear of implosion...

Loose objects recombined into organized form....

Sounds like homeownership to me!

Dan Havel and Dean Ruck built the tunnel house as the Inversion Project for the Art League of Houston.

More pictures before the 2005 demolition here, here and here.

Why bother with land?

Is it possible for people to one day live in the air?

Sensory Impact looks at a ‘Solar Flying Meeting Space’ by Artist Tomas Saraceno.

This floating solar powered structure can both float on water and in air depending on the amount of available energy from the sun.

The concept is to build lighter than air space.

An inexpensive solar cell

I will just post these words from ScienceBlog:

“Someday homeowners will be able to print sheets of solar cells with inexpensive home-based inkjet printers."