Home Depot Smart House

     smart home
     A green roof comprised of living plants filters water that passes through it, removing pollutants picked up from the atmosphere.
     The Home Depot Smart House is a multidisciplinary endeavor designed and managed by the Pratt School of Engineering. The small, LEED Platinum certified dormitory serves as a live-in laboratory for student residents exploring and showcasing designs and systems for future homes.   One of the Smart House project's primary goals is to research and develop innovative approaches to the 3 E's of living technology:
    • Energy and Efficiency
    • Environment and Health
    • Entertainment and Communications

    The students current plan involves features such as

      • A green roof comprised of living plants that will insulate the home from the cold of winter and the heat of summer. The roof's soil also pre-filters water that passes through it, removing pollutants picked up from the atmosphere.

      • Two solar power systems, including a solar thermal unit on the roof that helps heat water for showers and dishwashing, and photovoltaic panels in the front of the house which transform sunlight into electricity that powers lights in the dorm.

      • Two rainwater collection systems to irrigate the property and provide water for toilets and the clothes washing machine.

      • Lumber that was harvested from sustainable forests, and trim that includes Southern yellow pine from the Duke Forest.

      • DensArmor Plus® drywall, a new generation of paperless drywall designed with a moisture-resistant core to resist mold.

      • Fiber optic wiring throughout the home that provides the dorm with the capability for spectacular internet speeds up to 40 Gigabytes per second.

      Website: http://www.smarthouse.duke.edu