"i - house" - Warren Buffet is into Eco Homes

[Eleanor]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090506/ap_on_re_us/us_clayton_i_house New modular home, design it on line 

"This innovative 'green' home, featuring solar panels and numerous other energy-saving products, is truly a home of the future," Buffett wrote his shareholders. "Estimated costs for electricity and heating total only about $1 per day when the home is sited in an area like Omaha."

The "i-house's" metal v-shaped roof — inspired by a gas-station awning — combines design with function. The roof provides a rain water catchment system for recycling, supports flush-mounted solar panels and vaults interior ceilings at each end to 10 1/2 feet for an added feeling of openness.

The Energy Star-rated design features heavy insulation, six-inch thick exterior walls, cement board and corrugated metal siding, energy efficient appliances, a tankless water heater, dual-flush toilets and lots of "low-e" glazed windows.


At least they are trying ...... must be lots of money in it ...... 

[Amy]

Its an educational start for the wasteful nation but just how green is the construction?
What is the cost of the siding?
why only 6" thick walls and what are they made from?
why not composting toilets?

If your going to do it, why not do it completely right?

[daftlad]

Sounds like a really expensive, very un green, statement by an archetect trying to show off.
Earthships do it better and and use no outside services whatsoever.
This is a link to the American earthship site.
http://www.earthshipbiotecture.com/

And this is one built in this country, which i went to see last week, and it was great.
http://www.lowcarbon.co.uk/earthship-brighton/earthships
laters

[Eleanor]

No, it's a blatant money making scheme from one of the worlds biggest tycoons. If there was lots of money in earthships he'd be doing those