Solar-Powered Brazilian Ekó House is a Modular Smart Home with a Composting Toilet

The 2012 <a href="http://www.sdeurope.org">Solar Decathlon Europe</a> has encouraged the competition's 20 participating teams to incorporate high-tech solutions into their <a href="http://inhabitat.com/solar-power/">solar-powered</a> houses, but that hasn't stopped the team from Brazil from leaning heavily on their home country's traditions as well. Their Ekó House is a solar-powered modular home that takes inspiration from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_people">Tupi-Guarani people</a>, who look to the sun as the most important regulator of life. Using smart automated systems that maximize energy efficiency, comfort and security, the only team from the southern hemisphere to participate in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/inhabitat-is-looking-for-photographers-for-the-2012-european-solar-decathlon-in-madrid/">2012 European Solar Decathlon</a> has also revived their people's custom of communing in large shared spaces that open to the beautiful outdoors.

The Eko House is a solar-powered modular structure

It has large spacious rooms and modular verandas

Rooftop solar panels provide energy

The verandas help to mitigate solar gain and provide a comfortable interior environment

The interior is well-lit

The interior furnishings are designed to be very "Brazilian"

A mechanical closet contains all of the hydraulic, HVAC and mechanical systems

The home is constructed with pre-stressed wood and steel cables

A waterless compost toilet helps to reduce the home's water consumption