University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

Team UIUC’s Solar Decathlon Re_house Provides Eco-Housing for Emergencies

09/14/2011

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is throwing everything they’ve got into the <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.illinois.edu/index.php">Re_house</a> for this year's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sneak-peek-20-stunning-energy-efficient-homes-in-the-2011-solar-decathlon/">Solar Decathlon</a>, but they're still keeping costs in check. The main focus of the project is to design high-quality house that can be quickly <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/emergency-housing/">mobilized for emergencies</a>. The home will be very much a plug-and-play operation, providing all the creature comforts of a regular home, but without the environmental impact. The home's modernist bend is fun, but not too radical, making it a viable design for many neighborhoods. But best of all, the team was able to keep the price under $250k which, for a house that probably will never see an energy bill, is a great deal.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

With a compact design, wrap-around shade and vertical siding, the design is a bit reminiscent of Michelle Kaufmann's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/prefab-friday-green-prefab-mklotus-debuts/">MkLotus house</a>.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

The student design/build team created the home with a small family who lost their home to a tornado in mind. The Re-home is two modules that can fit on a single trailer and be setup on-site in a day.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

The 7.2 kW solar array can be tilted to maximize sun exposure and power the air source heat pump. AC and heating is distributed by an all-in-one <a href="http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/hrv-or-erv">Central Energy Recovery Ventilation system </a>that also pumps in fresh air and removes the stale.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

A super-insulated wall and roof utilize spray foam that also tightly seals the house envelope while stiffening it during natural events.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

The siding is a mix of cedar strips and composite product that uses rice husks and minerals as its main ingredients.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/ethan-hayes-chutes-quirky-wooden-shacks-are-a-delightful-hodgepodge-of-found-materials/">Reclaimed wood</a> and recycled content material help finish the interior.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

A straightforward floorplan houses two bedrooms, bath, kitchen, and living room in 978 square feet.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

Make sure to check out their <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.illinois.edu/index.php">slick website</a>.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Re_home

Just a part of the student design/build team at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is throwing everything they’ve got into the Re_house for this year's Solar Decathlon, but they're still keeping costs in check. The main focus of the project is to design high-quality house that can be quickly mobilized for emergencies. The home will be very much a plug-and-play operation, providing all the creature comforts of a regular home, but without the environmental impact. The home's modernist bend is fun, but not too radical, making it a viable design for many neighborhoods. But best of all, the team was able to keep the price under $250k which, for a house that probably will never see an energy bill, is a great deal.

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