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Couple Builds Greenhouse AROUND House to Grow Food and Keep Warm
Last edited Mon Mar 28, 2016, 05:19 PM - Edit history (2)
http://sfglobe.com/2015/11/11/family-designs-glass-green-house-to-wrap-around-home-and-warm-it-naturally/While Charles Sacilotto and Marie Granmar’s home, encased in glass, may look like something out of a sci-fi movie, their life is far simpler than it appears. In a video uploaded on Nov. 11, the couple gives a tour of their house-in-a-greenhouse, located on the Stockholm archipelago, that uses natural solar power to provide heat and save energy.
Rather than build from the ground up, Sacilotto and Granmar decided to purchase this small home and construct the greenhouse around it. The structure, built out of security glass 4 millimeters thick, is designed to withstand the elements, but will shatter into small harmless pieces if it does break. Fair Companies states that its warming effect produces a climate not unlike the Mediterranean, with Sacilotto adding, “At the end of January it can be -2°C outside and it can be 15 to 20°C upstairs."
Perhaps the most beloved feature of Sacilotto and Granmar's house-in-a-greenhouse is their terrace, which takes the place of the structure's former roof. The eco-conscious couple also maintains fruit and vegetable gardens, grape trees, and even a small goldfish pond – all within the greenhouse walls. Sacilotto and Granmar water their plants with rainwater collected from underground cisterns and have even installed their own sustainable independent sewage system.
These innovative homeowners cite inspiration from Swedish architect Bengt Warne, whose original Naturhus (Nature House) was built in the 1970s. Inhabitat explains that this greenhouse design not only seamlessly weaves the great outdoors and its luscious greenery into domestic life, but it can also reduce energy bills by as much as 50 percent.
Rather than build from the ground up, Sacilotto and Granmar decided to purchase this small home and construct the greenhouse around it. The structure, built out of security glass 4 millimeters thick, is designed to withstand the elements, but will shatter into small harmless pieces if it does break. Fair Companies states that its warming effect produces a climate not unlike the Mediterranean, with Sacilotto adding, “At the end of January it can be -2°C outside and it can be 15 to 20°C upstairs."
Perhaps the most beloved feature of Sacilotto and Granmar's house-in-a-greenhouse is their terrace, which takes the place of the structure's former roof. The eco-conscious couple also maintains fruit and vegetable gardens, grape trees, and even a small goldfish pond – all within the greenhouse walls. Sacilotto and Granmar water their plants with rainwater collected from underground cisterns and have even installed their own sustainable independent sewage system.
These innovative homeowners cite inspiration from Swedish architect Bengt Warne, whose original Naturhus (Nature House) was built in the 1970s. Inhabitat explains that this greenhouse design not only seamlessly weaves the great outdoors and its luscious greenery into domestic life, but it can also reduce energy bills by as much as 50 percent.
33 replies
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They will do anything to save the planet.
There's a hell of a lot of room in places like Alaska. 
And, might it be possible to capture some of the sunlight with solar panels, so as to be completely off the grid?
Or warm.
Karl Rove's car wrapped in plastic wrap, eagles, and stickers, including one with "I love Obama" written on it.
Winooski, Vt., outside Burlington, looked into it in the late '70s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winooski,_Vermont#Modern_times
In 1979, the city researched the construction of a dome over the entire city of Winooski, to reduce heating costs during the winter. The proposed dome would have been 200 feet (61 m) at the center, and internal combustion engines would have been banned. Though the dome was never built, to this day the city's planner defends the concept, insisting "Economically, it's a slam dunk," and adding "You could have had year-round fly-fishing."
Advances in technology may well have made this economically feasible! And they could angle for an NFL team.
I can't imagine that he did, since not only is Winooski a separate municipality from Burlington, he didn't become mayor of Burlington until the following year.
