Tue
Oct 28 2008
08:17 am
Clayton introduces high-tech, low-e "i-house"
By: R. Neal

Clayton Homes unveils a high tech, low energy "i-house" at its 2008 Showcase of Homes at the Knoxville Convention center.

According to this Knoxville News Sentinel article, the "i-house" features include a v-shaped roof with a rainwater collection system, tankless water heaters, energy efficient appliances, bamboo flooring, and optional low-e windows and solar panels. According to Clayton, energy costs can be as low as $28 per month with the $8000 solar panels option. Here's a photo gallery.

A model "i-house" is on display at the Clayton Showcase of Homes, which opens Friday, Oct. 31st and runs through Sunday Nov. 2nd at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Topics:
gonzone's picture

Good

Submitted by gonzone on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 8:31am.

Good things are happening since Warren Buffett bought that business. More pre-fab housing boulders need to follow this example. It's much easier than retro-fitting an existing house.

Off-topic aside: I see the comments are off and gone from the TN terrorist thread. Now I can't even read what the defenders of murder and Hitler had to say in defense of these haters? :-)

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

sugarfatpie's picture

Rainwater harvesting

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 9:20am.

I wonder if that rainwater catchment system is meant to supply potable water for use inside the home.
Rainwater, once run through a filter, is the cleanest water you can get. Better than well or city water.

Very cool house.
I'd like to see a full cradle-to-grave audit of the materials used.
Like what these guys provide:
(link...)

A

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

sugarfatpie's picture

The filter, perhaps

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 10:34am.

The filter, perhaps augmented by some ozone-ation, will take all of that out, leaving you with water that is better than city water.

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

smalc's picture

Hmm, city water comes from

Submitted by smalc on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 10:35am.

Hmm, city water comes from surface water that is filtered and disinfected. We all know surface water is highly contaminated with biological and industrial wastes. Rain water could be contaminated with industrial wastes, mainly particulate. So, if you filter rain water, it should be potable. I would, however, think a capable home filter would be pricey (not your ordinary Brita filter).

R. Neal's picture

Check this out: Link...

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 10:41am.

Check this out:

(link...)

sugarfatpie's picture

WOW! Operating costs? End of septic?

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 11:25am.

That is really cool! I'd love to see the operating costs on it. Can it run on electricity? Its way easier to get power to some locations than clean water. Also, I wonder if a good solar thermal water heating system might be incorporated (some can get you just shy of boiling ).

I saw a product not unlike this from a New Hampshire company last year. They were aiming for industrial processors that needed ultra pure water and had environmental constraints on discharge. But this is aimed at residential! Could this be the end of septic?

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher)

"X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

R. Neal's picture

I first heard about this on

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 11:32am.

I first heard about this on the Colbert Report of all places. Haven't heard much more about it since.

On the program, Kamen was positioning it as a way to provide clean water and reduce disease in third-world countries.

R. Neal's picture

It wasn't that interesting.

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 8:33am.

It wasn't that interesting.

gonzone's picture

So I figured

Submitted by gonzone on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 8:35am.

Probably more repulsive than interesting.

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
Hunter S. Thompson

WhitesCreek's picture

This resembles some of the

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 9:21am.

This resembles some of the Dwell homes. I notice that there is no pricing given.

Russ's picture

The photos reminded me of

Submitted by Russ on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 9:31am.

The photos reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright's less expensive Usonian houses (the Pope-Leighey House in particular).

Cool design.

~Russ

Mike Cohen's picture

iHouse

Submitted by Mike Cohen on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 9:32am.

Hey, all. We're proud to be representing Clayton at Ackermann PR, so I'll try and answer a couple of things that were brought up.

No, at the present time the captured rainwater is not fed back into the home's water system. It's to be used for irrigation and other outdoor uses.

There is no pricing yet becasuse it's a prototype. Designed locally, built in Bean Station. Clayton has suppliers in this week looking at it and then, based on suppliers getting involved and consumer reaction, they'll be able to figure the economies of scale, etc. and develop a price point.

Go see it. The pictures are great but in person it's even cooler. The show is open to the public, free or charge, starting Friday and through the weekend.

R. Neal's picture

Hey, Mike, does the i-house

Submitted by R. Neal on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 10:21am.

Hey, Mike, does the i-house meet building and R1 type zoning codes so you could basically put one anywhere new construction is allowed (subdivision covenents notwithstanding)?

Also, can you custom order two of them bolted together for 2000 sq ft. if you wanted?

Factchecker's picture

i-house, huh?

Submitted by Factchecker on Tue, 2008/10/28 - 7:04pm.

This does look pretty cool, at least in photos--haven't actually seen it. I'm impressed, though I agree they've been reading Dwell. That's fine. Imitation and all. There's certainly room in the market between traditional "manufactured housing" and Dwell-type prefabs, which are quite pricey.

It wasn't that interesting.

Didn't know what happened to it, but didn't really care after reading some last night. I didn't have the time or energy to really get into it further.

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