Extra-Ordinary Solutions for Useful Smart Living
353
Fig. 2 Constructive scheme of the cHOMgenius mock-up
are developing a patentable device in which active sensors monitor the effects of
horizontal forces and highlight possible damages; in addition, the seismic isolator is
completely replaceable without uplifting the building.
Regarding the aggregation of modules, the boxes are jointed only at the corners
and structural reinforcements are inserted only if an entire vertical sheet is cut away.
From the point of view of energy systems, the building is completely OFF-GRID
thanks to a high-performance shell and 24 V electric plants that do not need converters. It is based on a bio-fuel cogenerator, linked with a 24 V heat pump, photovoltaic
cells and a battery as storage (Fig. 3).
As regards the envelope, the containers are generally supplied without thermal
insulation, and thus are not able to meet the energy performance requirements according to the legislation for NZEB buildings. The absence of a massive envelope also
implies that buildings simply made up of containers have a low-thermal capacity. A
change in the external temperature quickly leads to excessive cooling or overheating
of the internal temperature with an extremely reduced delay time. Therefore, containers used for residential purposes require an insulation layer which must be placed
outside the container, to avoid loss of internal surface and thermal bridges. For these
reasons, we have considered cellular glass as the best material for such application: it
is waterproof, able to stop the passage of steam, incombustible, resistant to harmful
353
Fig. 2 Constructive scheme of the cHOMgenius mock-up
are developing a patentable device in which active sensors monitor the effects of
horizontal forces and highlight possible damages; in addition, the seismic isolator is
completely replaceable without uplifting the building.
Regarding the aggregation of modules, the boxes are jointed only at the corners
and structural reinforcements are inserted only if an entire vertical sheet is cut away.
From the point of view of energy systems, the building is completely OFF-GRID
thanks to a high-performance shell and 24 V electric plants that do not need converters. It is based on a bio-fuel cogenerator, linked with a 24 V heat pump, photovoltaic
cells and a battery as storage (Fig. 3).
As regards the envelope, the containers are generally supplied without thermal
insulation, and thus are not able to meet the energy performance requirements according to the legislation for NZEB buildings. The absence of a massive envelope also
implies that buildings simply made up of containers have a low-thermal capacity. A
change in the external temperature quickly leads to excessive cooling or overheating
of the internal temperature with an extremely reduced delay time. Therefore, containers used for residential purposes require an insulation layer which must be placed
outside the container, to avoid loss of internal surface and thermal bridges. For these
reasons, we have considered cellular glass as the best material for such application: it
is waterproof, able to stop the passage of steam, incombustible, resistant to harmful