Posted by JWmHarmon on July 23, 2002 at 07:44:36:In Reply to: Re: ArchWeek - Working Steel and the Tokyo mini-house posted by Paul Malo on July 21, 2002 at 13:50:40:
Component manufacturing is a field that appears to be open for development.
Your suggestion that bathrooms could be designed as a component unit is one example. This idea was developed by Buckminster Fuller in his Dymaxion barhroom. The topic of union opposition is one which may still have to be addressed.
One could imagine kitchen components and laundry components. Such components could be built in standard sizes.
I was talking to an engineering student recently concerning energy consumption in residences. Currently the air conditioner, refrigerator, stove and oven, and heating plant are separate units. Electrical service is supplied by an outside source. Why not combine an electrical generator with a hot water supply that could be used for heating requirements as well? Why not combine the refrigeration and air conditioning functions into one?
My refrigerator requires a compressor and motor unit that requires outside electrical input. Why not attach a motor to the gas supply line? The gas powered motor would generate electicity while it drives the compressor for cooling. The heat generated by running the gas powered motor could also heat a portion of the house?
When we think of the development of integrated circuits in the computer field, why are we not also thinking of integrated power units for the housing and building market?
Maybe these already exist and I am simply not aware of them.
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