US’ first solar home with back-up battery power is just a step away from reality. The construction work of the prototype house is under way. Located at Alamosa community in Lancaster, California, the home is being built by Los Angeles-based production builder KB Home. Apart from trapping sunlight to produce power that will help in running the house, it also has provision for storing the energy in a lithium-FE battery so that it can be used whenever required. At night or during times when the sun is not out the battery backup system will help in meeting terms with the home’s energy requirement.
A charging cabinet comprising of four 10 kWh batteries kept in the garage provides energy to power the house. Each 2-foot-by-3-foot battery is capable of holding enough power to run the house for two to three days. Chinese electronics manufacturer BYD has been given the job of providing solar panels, batteries, charging pedestal, and other accessories for the dwelling. There are plans to put it on display for a couple of months and compare its energy consumption with other homes in the area. If the prototype turns out to be a success, a new revolution will be seen in the designing and building process of homes in the US.
Via: EcoHome