Australia’s first carbon-positive prefab house produces more energy than it consumes

Australian architecture firm <a href="http://www.archiblox.com.au/" target="_blank">ArchiBlox</a> recently unveiled Australia’s first carbon-positive <a href="http://inhabitat.com/architecture/prefab-housing" target="_blank">prefab home</a> that’s packed with eco-friendly features and gorgeous to boot. Contemporary and cozy, this light-filled mobile home is sealed within an airtight 800-square-foot structure that locks in cool air and keeps Australia’s intense heat out. The solar panel-topped Carbon Positive House prototype can produce more energy than it consumes and is currently on display in Melbourne’s City Square.

Fronted by a floor-to-ceiling double-glazed facade, the self-sufficient Carbon Positive House was designed to maximize solar gain and passive design strategies.

Instead of relying on mechanical heating and cooling, the naturally ventilated home uses in-ground tubes to pull in cool air from the south side.

The building is topped by a green roof for added insulation.

A set of sliding vertical garden walls shade and cool the building in the summer.

The north-facing home is divided into two main areas: the glazed sunroom in front and the main living spaces in back.

The sunroom serves as a buffer zone and spans the width of the structure.

The compact living space comprises an open-plan dining area and kitchen on one end, and a bathroom and bedroom on the other.

The private area is separated from the common space by a modular cabinetry wall.

The bright and airy wood-paneled interior is made up of sustainably sourced and non-toxic materials.

The solar panel-topped Carbon Positive House prototype can produce more energy than it consumes and is currently on display in Melbourne’s City Square.