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TwitThisThe Energy Answer
At some point, homes will have to embrace alternative energy sources, such as solar panels that look like regular roof shingles. The technology uses a solar-sensitive material called thin-film triple-junction amorphous silicon, which is sandwiched inside conventional-looking shingles and wired into the home's electric system. Today, these systems are rare and expensive, but they'll start to look more attractive as electricity costs climb.Windows are a challenge, because even the best glass can't insulate like a wall. So in the future, some windows will likely be made of lightweight particles called aerogels, which insulate like foam but transmit light.
It's easy to get carried away with visions of homes that heat themselves, keep us company and remind us to call the folks. "But technology never drives the aesthetic," says architect Sarah Susanka, author of Home by Design. "That's why those weird-looking 'houses of the future' never come into being. People will always want their house to look and feel like a home."
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