Japan-inspired 'water house' slashes energy needs

Sounds interesting. Wouldn't the water freeze overnight in winter, cracking the glass walls?

Very cool and environment friendly.

Very interesting indeed. It could work. I wonder how it affect climate change if a whole society lived in such homes.

I think his real challenge is getting past the old guard of big energy.

Wouldn't the water freeze overnight in winter, cracking the glass walls?

Not in Okinawa at any rate.

And I'm sure he has taken this into account in colder areas.

Hungary gets pretty cold.

Article sez he stores excess hot water in tanks to be used later during cold times.

So I would think there us a steady water flow at all times to keep the temperature/insulation even.

For extreme climates maybe a separate heater might be needed.

By now he will be having algae problems. These systems cannot rely on convection, but must use filtration for the algae, usually.

if its circulated continuosly it wont freeze, they also may add some type of antifreeze, as for algae also some additives could be used, even a couple table spoons of house hold bleech to 1 liiter of water is enough to stop algae blooms

What about a "Perfect Storm"?

Go on a two week vacation

Power goes out for some reason

Sun doesn't come out of the clouds long enough for the solar panels to warm the water

Battery power (if installed) only lasts a day

Neighbor you asked to look after it is sent on a business trip to Kumamoto

CRACK!

Add in some antifreeze or similar.

I can see how this may work for a larger building. But for smaller one off buildings and residences I dont see where if any efficiencies can be gained over say a ground source heat pump. Also, I imagine its a nightmare to retrofit a system like this.

Maybe in a stable world not ruled by emotions, (Gene Roddenberry had it right!) but science. Unfortunately, we're stilled ruled by, and vote for, idiots!

"An ancient Japanese proverb states that "the simplest solution is the best." If that's the case (and we think it is!), then this attractive house—nestled high in California's Sierra Nevada mountains—is one of the better solar-heated homes around, since its design allows it to store heat during the sunlight hours and release that warmth, slowly, to the interior throughout the day and night." - Richard Freudenberger - March/April 1979

reference: http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/envelope-house-zmaz79mazraw.aspx

"Envelope" or "Passive Solar" home designs were first used in 1975. Similar in concept, a heat storage and circulating design reduces fossil fuel demand. As beautiful as Gutai’s design inspiration is, there are more conventional and less delicate models of the same concept. Additionally, there are few places the ordinary person can afford that provide the privacy a "glass" house necessitates.