Optical shell for the house

Many houses in the Netherlands are built as terraced fields, creating a unique urban landscape of this country. However, these are houses that have been built for quite a long time so people did not pay attention to energy efficiency.

Photo: Gizmag

Therefore, a group of Delft University students developed the concept of ' photovoltaic ' solar energy to optimize energy use, while still retaining the architecture of these classic Dutch houses. .

This 'skin' will cover the house from front to back. One side will be equipped with glass panels and photovoltaic panels to get solar power, the other side is designed as a kind of indoor thermal trap. The team said the design would help at least 1.4 million homes in the Netherlands become completely independent of energy.

What is important for this solar 'skin' is its adaptability, in the winter it will completely surround the house to retain heat. By autumn, spring will open a part for ventilation. In the hot months of the year will be fully opened to maximize cooling airflow.

Gizmag magazine said that in 2014, the team will cover some models to participate in the Decathlon photovoltaic competition that many universities around the world are invited to attend.