People who love natural lighting will love the light-filled Reflect Home. The house is designed by Sacramento State students. The pre-fabricated house soaks up the California sun and surrounding views through its many openings. But not all windows are made equal because one of its main features is the rows of photovoltaic skylights that harness solar energy while letting the sun shine through it as posted in Inhabitat’s website.
The project was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy to compete in the annual Solar Decathlon student competition. The Sacramento State’s team Solar NEST spent months planning and designing the Reflect Home. The 996 sq. ft. The home was created to meet the DOEs stringent net-zero and cost-effective requirements without sacrificing comfort and style. The goal of Reflect Home’s design focuses on the resident with the intention of making the house as liveable, functional and comfortable as possible.
The project was inspired by local Craftsman bungalows and small, mid-century ranch. The two-bedroom house accentuate indoor-outdoor living with its numerous windows and glaze accordion doors that goes to the outdoor living area. The raised ceilings, the open-plan dining, living and kitchen area create a sense of spaciousness. Every room is cooled and warmed by an efficient air-to-water heat pump with a ductless mini-split HVAC system.
The house achieves its net-zero status with its airtight structural framework, rooftop panels, high –density insulation and solar skylights installed above the rear patio.
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Image credit: solarnest.org