Eco-Pod House ready to Launch
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 03.27.07
Actually it does look like it might take off any second. In fact it is an interesting design by inventor/ builder Aidan Quinn, who has been living in it for the last four weeks. To the Manchester Evening News he said:
“I have always wanted to build a house and it seemed to me that there had to be a way of doing it more efficiently to not only cut down CO2 pollution during construction but also running costs. Our homes are responsible for creating 27 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions and that clearly is not sustainable. I wanted to find a better way to live.”
So his Pod has solar panels on the roof to heat the water, a wind turbine to generate power and a wood burning stove in case there’s no wind. There’s a water harvesting and recycling system and odourless dry toilet, and the pod sits on a deep concrete base which incorporates the underfloor heating system.
Now if he composts in an EcoPod and goes out horizontally in an ecopod, Aidan will have all the bases covered.
The Pod is manufactured in sections with polyurethane blown into moulds he has designed and manufactured which are then bolted together and sprayed with lightweight concrete 60mm thick giving the structure both strength and insulation. It is then covered in tiles made from recycled car tyres that look like slate, with solar panels installed in the upper section.
For those who think it is a meaningful number, at 45,000 pounds for the four metre diameter, that is $ 88,641 for 135 square feet, or US$ 656 per square foot, although we do not include the area of the loft. Read more in ::Manchester Online We have asked for more pictures and will publish them as soon as they are received.
Nice opening line. Way to drag me into it.
How does the shape of this structure promote an "eco" or green design? I guess I just don't understand the reasoning for the bullet-shaped form of the pod. It would be alot more environmentally friendly if it had a flat roof that caught more rain water and reduced runoff .
$650/square foot!!! At that price it's more Eco-Snob than Eco-Pod. Really, who in their right minds is going to spend that much money on such a small building. I realise that housing is becoming ridiculously expensive but this hardly helps in that regard.
You'd be much better of building a house out of recycled insulated shipping containers (http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm or http://www.zigloo.ca/) which would allow a green roof as well or strawbales if you prefer that rounded look. You'll have plenty of change for all the fittings & solar panels you can handle.
Don't get me wrong - I love the concept, like the design, totally agree with creating small buildings that are fitted out as efficiently as ships. I just think the price is ridiculous. Architect should realise that most people don't have as deep pockets as they do.
Benjamin
I have been inside one of these at the Birmingham NEC during the Homes and Renovation Show, I must say it is quite an attractive building. I would not mind living in it, however for that price it would only ever be a dream to own one.
Like stated above, the shape doesn't exactly shout eco particually but it does seem friendly.
If the house came a bit cheaper, perhaps so that I can afford land to put it on, then it would be an interesting purchase.
:)