#discussion7

Saving money is really important to me and is one of the major goals in creating my house. All the materials used will be recycled in some way. One of the ways I will help maintain a natural and cost-efficient environment is utilizing solar energy. Using the sun as a source for energy is seen in many organisms, the most commonly known, is plants. My house will have tall, reflective windows made of glass. My house will also have solar panels as a way to store energy and then later used. The thermal solar panels trap heat in the summer and it is then stored underground for later use in the winter. Similarly, cold temperatures could be stored in the soil during the winter and one would benefit from it during the summer.

Additionally, I will have a water purification system and recycling system. Not only will the water that is being used in the house be purified and reused, the rainwater will be collected from the roof, purified, and then recycled. Part of the roof would be made of special material that absorbs water similar to the way in which the Namib Beatle does through its exoskeleton. The collection of rainwater travels through pipes that eventually lead to the underground storage. This method of stabilizing temperature is mimicked from the stone plant. I think that using algae, similar to the way NIOO does to filter water, would be a great way to make the best use of our water source. This method is similar to a closed-loop water source, however there is additional water coming in.

Sources

http://www.asknature.org/strategy/dc2127c6d0008a6c7748e4e4474e7aa1