Israel builds solar-power houses

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-09-2008 09:38

And finally engineers in Israel are developing pre-fabricated solar powered houses in the midst of Israel's Negev Desert.

Engineers in Israel are developing pre-fabricated solar powered houses in the midst of Israel's Negev Desert. (CCTV.com)

It hopes to provide an answer to the pressing need for affordable and environmentally friendly housing.

In Israel's Negev Desert, there are sand dunes, wandering camels and of course, endless sunshine.

Engineers are constructing a new eco house proto-type that runs exclusively on solar power.

Chaim Brown, VP of construction Real Housing, said, "We have the opportunity by putting solar power on each house, more than what the house(s) use, as turning each house into a mini power plant which is a different way to provide energy for the Negev Desert."

The houses are equipped with many appliances including a dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator, and oven.

All they require to run efficiently is four sunny days per month, and photovoltaic tiles on the roof.

Michael Brandemuehl, VP of Research Real Housing, said, "It's getting to the point where with good energy efficiency technologies the typical roof areas that people have on their houses is more than enough to produce the energy they use over the course of a year and still put more energy back into the grid. All the roofs that are around the country are in some ways a great resource that's under-utilised."

The buildings can be assembled in two weeks at a cost of approximately 50 thousand US dollars.

Developers hope the abundant resources of sunshine here are one way of providing for Israel's future power demands without dependency on foreign energy sources.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei