Like the Z6 House, Chicago's Factor 10 House gets its n¬am¬e from its philosophy -- the claim that the structure consumes one-tenth of the environmental resources that the average home uses (in other words, it minimizes the ecological footprint by a "factor of 10"). In an effort to find affordable methods to green build, Chicago's Department of Environment and Housing held a competition for designs, and Factor 10 was among the winners.
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the house is a wall made of water bottles. Not only is the material itself being recycled, but the wall serves as a heat sink which collects heat all day and releases it into the house during the cool night. Insulation for the house was manufactured from recycled paper, and the concrete used for foundation incorporates fly ash (a substance produced during the burning of coal.) Even the carpet consists of recycled materials -- specifically, material from recycled plastic bottles.
luxury villas
14 years ago
