8 Amazing Solar Powered Homes That You Should See. #5 Looks Amazing!
The rise in numbers of solar powered homes is inevitable. Because of the benefits and advantages it offers, more and more people are now open with the concept of using pure solar energy.
If you are one of those people who are seriously considering building a solar powered home, below are some design ideas, concepts and designs that you can use as an inspiration.
GRoW Home by University of Buffalo
Part greenhouse and part solarium, this ultra-efficient house runs on solar and thermal energy. It has a a thriving all-weather vegetable garden at its center.
Nest Home by Missouri University of Science and Technology
A net-zero house built out of three disused shipping containers and reclaimed materials. The home was inspired by the shape of a bird’s nest and includes several energy efficient systems, such as greywater reuse, a hydroponic garden, and a photovoltaic array.
INhouse by California Polytechnic State University
A net-zero abode that lets you keep your garden intact even in times of drought. Shaded by a solar panel-topped structure, the water-smart INhouse drains all of its greywater into a constructed wetland system that then filters and redirects the water into landscape irrigation.
Indigo Pine by Clemson University
A solar-powered abode constructed from CNC-milled interlocking pieces that can be put together by hand without a single nail or using any tool.
Shelter3 by Crowder College and Drury University
Shelter3 (pronounced shelter cubed) is an ultra-strong home that defends its residents in style from big storms. Powered with a photovoltaic system that’ll supply more electricity than it needs, the tornado-proof house ensures self-sufficiency even when the grid is destroyed. .
SURE HOUSE by Stevens Institute of Technology
A solar-powered home specifically created for use at coastal areas. The 1,000-square-foot home uses 90% less energy than a standard home and will stay running even after the power grid’s been shut down.
Nexus Haus by Technische Universität München (TUM) and the University of Texas at Austin (UTA)
Aa 784-square-foot modular home built to LEED Platinum standards. Topped by a 7kW photovoltaic array, the compact NexusHaus is handsomely clad in certified green wood and even grows its own food with an “all-food residential landscape.”
Aggie Sol by UC Davis
A prefab solar home specifically created for low-income agricultural farm workers on the west coast. The rooftop has sprinkler cooling system that collects and reuses rainwater to naturally cool the home.
Absolutely amazing. Solar power is where it;s at these days. Love these houses.
These are really cool houses – very modern and love that they are using sustainable energy. My parents house has solar panels and they had them put on in the 1970’s! I guess a little ahead of their time with energy use, huh?
Karen | GlamKaren.com
#3 is my favorite, but I might be a little biased as it is from my home state! All these houses are amazing! I would take any of them!
I would love to have a fully solar powered home one day. You would think the sun would be cheaper though! ha. Great post
I am seeing more and more homes get solar power and if I could afford it and owned my home I would do. It is important to protect the environment!
These homes are amazing. We had solar panels on our roof when I was a kid. They were supposed to keep our pool heated, but the didn’t really work too well and they messed up the roof. It’s nice to see solar panels have advanced since the 80s.
These homes are amazing! What a cool concept.
Moving to the south I never see them but at home in California we were solar power nuts! I love how they use its natural resources.
Wow, these homes are fabulous. I love the idea of living off the Earth’s renewable resources. Some day, when I build a house…
So very cool. I love the house by polytechnic state. My husband is obsessed with living in a tiny house including solar panels.
WE have solar panels on our house and we absolutely love it! Last month we actually put power into the system!
All of those solar homes look amazing. I know if we stay here in Texas we plan to add solar one of these days.
Wow, some of those are cool. One looks like a drive thru hahaha We actually looked at solar when we moved into our new home, but so far we haven’t made the leap. We might revisit it the idea in a year.
I love the modern lines of these houses! We keep getting contacted by solar companies, and several of our neighbors have panels. Now if we could just update the neighborhood to look like these cute homes in your post …
We have solar panels…. best decision ever! I wish ours looked as cool as some of the ones you have pictured though 🙂
I would love a solar powered home! I’m not sure how great it is in the winter here in Maine, but it is something that I have been thinking about for a long time – for when we build our own home.
These look amazing! I would love to be able to harvest my own energy like this
Solar power sure has come a long way in design and reliability. It definitely is something to be looked into as an alternative energy source.
Ong how awesome are these houses?!?! I would love to own a solar powered home!
these are just too cool. I like the one in Austin. I would love to have a home like this someday but not sure if that’s possible. 😉
Tons of houses around us have installed solar and we’re definitely thinking about it. Thanks for the inspiration on these houses, they look amazing!
A lot of the homes in our area have been getting solar panels installed. It is something I am seriously considering with the cost of power being what it is in New York City.
I wish my home was solar-powered. These house look awesome, I wonder how it would work in Alaska, prob not too well. 😉
I admire people who go for solar power, instead of the usual route. It’s definitely better for our environment. It’s an alternative that I’ve been thinking about for some time now. Thanks for sharing these homes, they will be good as a reference!