ecofabulous: Good Things Come in Small Packages

I have written about Living Homes' dramatic prefab offerings before but last week was my first glimpse of Michelle Kaufmann Designs (mkd) answer to modern green housing. In conjunction with Sunset Magazine the mkLotus modular home at West Coast Green in San Francisco went up last week. With the help of XtremeHomes (and others), they converted the Civic Center's courtyard into a showcase for the first ever mkLotus one-bedroom one-bath home so that conference-goers could see and feel a real eco-prefab. Just in case you're wondering, "prefab" is an abbreviation for prefabricated which nowadays refers to any factory-built home. "Modular" homes are a type of prefab that is built in modules, or smaller sections, in a factory that, once transported to the site, are assembled together (which makes for larger and more customizable designs). Prefabs are inherently "greener" than traditionally-built homes due to a streamlined use of materials that yields little waste and a reduced environmental impact to the home site - not to mention they save time (lots) and money. As I toured the mkLotus I was surprised to discover that it is only 700 square feet - it feels much larger - a design Michelle says "borrows the sense of space from the outside." When the NanaWall, an accordion-like series of glass panels used in the living room is open, the lines drawn between indoors and outdoors are truly blurred. In accordance with LEED and Build it Green specifications, mkd has taken a holistic approach that considers everything from its size and design to its materials and efficiency. To give you a quick (and by no means comprehensive) rundown of its eco-traits, the mkLotus has solar panels and a green "living" roof that is designed to help catch water and funnel it down to a cistern underground that in turn uses the water for irrigation. There's also a greywater system that collects water from the sinks and shower to use in the toilet. A Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system utilizes a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration for improved Indoor Air Quality, though I prefer radiant heat for asthmatics. Windows are also thoughtfully placed to facilitate air circulation. The floor is an FSC-certified Peruvian Rosewood, and other materials such as glass tiles and countertops are made from recycled components. A Home Director system is installed that monitors water and energy usage - as well as manages all the media needs from wi-fi to an ipod docking station. Skylights are used to flood the entire space with light during the day to diminish the need for artificial light, and at night LEDs provide long lasting ambiance. Yolo's non-VOC paint was used, low-flow fixtures, a dual-flush toilet and non-toxic finishes throughout.