The tiny house
movement’s latest creation – a mobile egg that is energy self-sufficient – is
now available in Australia.
Ecocapsule is made by a Slovakian company and is powered by
rooftop
solar panels and a miniature wind turbine. It can accommodate two people,
and is designed to be towed by car.
Based in Bratislava, manufacturers Nice
Architects are now taking Australian orders. Ecocapsule costs $125,000 plus
$30,000 shipping.
Resembling a slightly flattened egg, Ecocapsule
is self-sustainable, allowing people to live off-the-grid in remote areas. It
could also be set up as a charging station for electric vehicles, according to
Nice Architects.
The egg that’s cracked the
tiny house market
The capsule is 4.67m long, 2.2m wide and 2.5m in
height and weighs 2,000kg with full water tanks. The body is made from
high-capacity insulated fibreglass shells overlaid on an aluminium framework.
Power comes from a 600 W solar array built in
to the roof and a 750 W wind turbine that is collapsible. It has a battery
capacity of 10 kWh as the default option.
The capsule can also be connected to the
electricity grid. When it rains, Ecocapsule channels rainwater on its surface
into storage tanks where it’s filtered.
Inside, blonde woods and light colours enhance
the feeling of space. In the bedroom, a sofa folds down into a bed.
A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unit
(HVAC) keeps the temperature comfortable. Ecocapsule’s environment is
controlled by an iOS or Android device. This gives information on how much
power is being used and how much water is in the tanks. It also gives control
over lighting and ventilation.
Ecocapsule gives owners access to remote areas
The designers say the pod removes the problem of
trying to find electrical power when going on a remote trip. They say
Ecocapsule is also ideal for scientists researching in remote environments or
for people who want to get away from it all.
It’s also useful for people who don’t want the
full caravan experience, but want to be able to relocate quickly.
The question is, where do you put your
Ecocapsule? According to a report in Domain, tiny house owners are approaching farmers
and negotiating land rentals.
Fred Schultz lived in a tiny house for a year and
says it was easy finding landowners to provide space.
“You say, ‘I see that you do horse agistment – I
was wondering whether you would be interested in doing a tiny house agistment?’
With a photo, they get it in one every time.”
Source: energymatters