Reducing the carbon footprint and energy consumption of the places we live in is an idea that interests us all. Yet the steps we usually take in this direction focus on changing our habits rather than on more substantial, structural changes to the home we live in. Cost and a lack of technical know-how discourage us from taking on changes of this kind.
In an effort to change this picture, E-Cube was created: an energy-saving home that you assemble yourself. The idea comes from Ghent University in Belgium and aims to produce an affordable zero-energy house that also introduces a DIY approach to building.
It is a “build it yourself” construction kit for a solar-powered house, prefabricated and easy to assemble without any special skills.
The house is built as a basic unit, which can then be upgraded and modified according to the owner’s personal taste, time and budget. The simplicity of the design allows owners to put the house together as easily as assembling a piece of furniture.
As the website explains, E-Cube has been designed around 5 basic principles. The result is a house that can be built using human energy, can be heated without traditional heating systems, can be constructed in stages, requires no technical knowledge or special skills to put up or maintain, and, finally, is flexible enough to be adapted in shape and decoration.
In the very interesting video above, you can see how simple it is to build E-Cube.
Text: Natasa Lianopoulou
