light canopy
The momentum of the sustainability movement is bringing with it rapidly changing energy production technologies. By designing a structurally independent system, new technologies can be more efficiently incorporated into the residential infrastructure, preserving the longevity of the home. We designed our Light Canopy to allow for advances in solar energy technology.
Off-the-shelf components make our canopy scalable, light, relatively inexpensive, and quickly deployable on nearly any structure. The canopy can be a useful addition to a variety of situations and can be erected to hold photovoltaics and provide solar power to existing houses, garages, sheds, emergency shelters, tents, and even automobiles.
The Light Canopy is a framework for the supply of electricity, water, heat, food, and shading. It is a freestanding, external structure constructed from off-the-shelf steel components featuring universal fastening devices, allowing for a multitude of components to be attached. In our home, the Light Canopy supports solar panels, evacuated tubes, and a series of green screens. Its structure allows for the hanging of vertical landscape components, thereby creating semi-climatized spaces that increase indoor/outdoor interaction. The Light Canopy’s flexible framework permits components to be added, removed, and rearranged without having to make modifications to the external envelope of the house.
Design and Material Costs
Construction and design of the prototype Light Canopy cost approximately $37,600. The steel scaffolding components were bought from a local scaffolding rental company for approximately $28,000. For a more attractive and durable finish, the team sent the scaffolding to be powder-coated, which cost $4,000. One-time design customization to modify the prototype cost an additional $5,600.
Were the canopy to be mass-produced, it would be powder-coated and cut to size as part of the manufacturing process, significantly reducing costs. While we have not received an actual quote for mass production, we anticipate that costs could be cut in half, resulting in an estimated price of around $16,000.
