Living in a tiny home doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a high-tech lifestyle. Jim Gregory, founder of California-based Shelter Dynamics , has designed a net-zero-energy smart home that doesn’t skimp on innovative amenities. The structure, ranging from 400 to 500 square feet, boasts an AT&T smart house system; a tablet-helmed dashboard for monitoring energy, water, and security; and a built-in audio system. The home’s final prototype was exhibited at the PCBC homebuilding trade show in San Francisco in June, and fully packaged homes will begin shipping in October. Arc House’s design was inspired by Gregory’s musings on “housing for the future,” in which he and his team considered factors such as population growth, changes in energy resources, and functional living. Before constructing Arc House, Gregory spent seven years building a solar-powered sailboat, which proved a valuable learning experience. “The sailing vessel became the best possible teacher for sustainable living,” he says. Ultimately, though, the plan came down to a more simple notion: “The final design was not so much from an engineering perspective,” says Gregory. “It was more intuitive.”
The home's kitchen area.
Intuition aside, Arc House has some seriously smart design features. A 24-foot-long central arch beam creates a spacious interior while also helping prevent the thermal loss sustained with a traditional gable roof. Since insulation is paramount to energy efficiency, Gregory also applied closed-cell spray foam insulation to the arc-shaped roof and outfitted windows with fiberglass frames to create an “unbroken envelope” of insulation. Power is derived from solar cells, and any excess power captured during the day is stored in a lithium-ion battery for future use. Builders will be able to construct up to 50 Arc Houses per year out of Shelter Dynamics’ unique mobile tent factory. The company’s bare-bones process allows it to rapidly expand production, or literally fold up shop if demand suddenly plummets, making the outfit more flexible and eco-friendly than most factories. Currently, Shelter Dynamics offers three models: resort (up to 24 feet long), apartment (up to 36 feet), and residential (up to 44 feet), with prices starting at $55,000.
