Why reACT?
Replaces power with knowledge
Generates Clean Energy
Produces Clean Water
Grows Nutrient Rich Foods
Promotes Wellness
Self Regulates Building Systems
Redefines Waste as Resources
Promotes Affordable Lifestyles
We reACT because we believe in facilitating sustainable, healthy, and affordable lifestyles. That starts with the creation of regenerative re ACT homes
reACT emphasizes regenerative principles as it strives to promote positive sustainable lifestyles and self-reliance within communities. Traditional Native American knowledge was blended with western scientific thinking to develop a set of regenerative principles Team Maryland specifically recognizes as part of reACT’s lifestyle system.
What makes a reACT home regenerative
Replaces power with knowledge
Replace power with knowledge: knowledge is power. reACT supports sustainability by educating and informing the occupant how to maximize energy usage and minimize waste. The automation developed with virtual house technology learns from its environment. For example, a prediction in heavy rainfall or a peak in energy producing hours is used to suggest to the occupant the best times to perform resource intensive tasks such as washing the laundry or using appliances through the user interface system.
Generates Clean Energy
Generates clean energy, and promotes self-reliance. reACT has roof mounted PV array oriented to be compatible with various diverse environments depending on the occupants requirements. Energy storage via an on-site battery is a key component of the power system to enable energy usage at times when energy production is low. reACT further empowers occupants to be self-reliant by allowing them to decide if and when energy can be sent back to the grid. During these times of surplus, reACT generates income for the occupants. reACT supports an urban lifestyle, but has the ability to go off grid and support individuals or communities removed from utilities.
Produces Clean Water
Produce clean water. A net-zero balance aspiring water system intelligently recycles greywater from the sinks and rainwater collected from the roof before filtering and sending clean water back into circulation. Clean water is an important part of wellness and healthy living. The benefits of producing clean extend far beyond just healthy living. Much like generating clean energy, producing clean water increases self-reliance providing individuals and communities to the flexibility of living off grid if they choose.
Grows Nutrient Rich Foods
Grows nutrient rich foods.The hydroponics system consists of edible plants that thrive in a soilless nutrient enhanced water solution. The plants are low maintenance and readily available for use and consumption within reACT. The green walls and planter boxes offer space for a variety of plant life. reACT’s water system regulates irrigation using both rainwater and graywater for all the landscaping components lowering maintenance required to have a diverse selection of plant life. Organic waste can be gathered and used to generate compost that supports growth of nutrient rich foods.
Promotes Wellness
Promotes wellness, a good home means good health. Active and passive systems interact to promote wellness. reACT utilizes a ventilation system to circulate fresh air in a home designed to enable intelligent airflow. reACT automates temperature and humidity to maximize occupant comfort. Plants grown on the greenwalls contribute to the air quality and the hydroponics systems provides food for consumption. Indoor outdoor connection is important to promoting physical and social wellness which starts with the Greencourt, the central greenhouse courtyard. Serving to not only collects heat used with the energy efficient mechanical systems, the Greencourt increases light and connects living spaces. In this flexible space where indoors and outdoors meet the occupant can enjoy natural sunlight in a transitional space that can store plants or be opened up so living space blends with the landscape and surrounding environment.
Self Regulates Building Systems
Self-regulating building systems are achieved through automation. Although the occupants can choose to use the systems in a manual mode or by customizable schedules, the automation ability allows for greater efficiency and independence. Energy modeling and virtual house technology are utilized to give input to the power, HVAC, and water systems to maximize energy/resource generation and minimize energy/resource loss.
Redefines Waste as Resources
Redefine waste as resources. Both sustainable and economical, what once may have gone to the landfill, water treatment centers, or lost in the form of heat energy, can be collected, recycled and reused with reACT. A micro-ecosystem is created with reACT. The water systems that collects greywater and rainwater sending to irrigate the landscaping or through a filtration system that aspires net-zero water balance and production of potable water. The heart of the home, the central Greencourt (both a courtyard and greenhouse) was a key design feature for recapturing resources. Heat is collected at the top of the Greencourt and directed to the mechanical systems for use in several functions. Heat pumps precondition refrigerant lines and the water heater while the ventilation system pre-conditions incoming air temperature. The heat is channeled to a solar oven and dryer accessible in the attic via a lift system. Organic waste can be composited and used to support the landscaping and growth of plants that are an integrated system in the home.
Promotes Affordable Lifestyles
Affordable lifestyles are promoted by reACT. Aside from the customizable modular design, it features disentangled systems, for easier access to all the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems via removable wall panels throughout the home. The automation system educations and informs occupants of their energy production and usage making suggestions for ways to improve the energy balance. During times of surplus, electrical energy can be send back to the grid, the utility company pays the home occupant for the power generated. reACT allows for greater flexibility in growing food, water recycling, and energy usage reducing the cost of procurement.