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College students built this $250,000 home that has a hydroponic farm and indoor greenhouse
College students built this $250,000 home that has a hydroponic farm and indoor greenhouse
Oct 17, 2017, 20:39 IST
"Nature should be viewed as not something separate from ourselves that is just pleasant to look at. Plant life and food should integrate with the home ... and involve the residents, vegetation, insects, wild life, water and nutrients," the team said.
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The ReACT home stood out for its focus on home gardening and water re-use system, the judges said in a statement.
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Throughout this process, the Maryland home produced more energy than it consumed.
Over nine days in Denver, the Decathlon's judges evaluated each home based on its affordability, livability, and eco-friendliness. Teams performed daily activities like cooking, laundry, and dishwashing to demonstrate the home's energy efficiency.
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The team started designing the home more than 18 months ago. Its modular design has a "kit of parts," meaning the rooms can be customized based on the owner's needs.
The kitchen features a food dehydrator (to encourage food storage) and a solar-powered oven.
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... and a washer and dryer powered by solar energy.
On the other side of the home, the bathroom has a composting toilet ...
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Though the team doesn't have a specific client for the home, the students designed it for Native American communities — specifically Maryland tribes like the Nanticoke, due to their emphasis on self-sufficiency.
In addition to growing crops, the enclosed greenhouse has a system that can capture, store, and distribute warm air throughout the home during colder months.
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On the roof, solar panels capture energy that is stored and used to power the home.
Down the hall, there is a living wall, which can grow leafy greens in nutrient-rich water. The plants are automatically watered through the bottom of the pot, using weather predictions and soil moisture as a guide. Any unused water is automatically filtered and then fed through the system again.
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The living room and kitchen features an open layout.
The ReACT is a solar-powered home that measures 1,190 square feet.