Green homes of the future

The Wall Street Journal is currently running a super fun piece – The Green House of the Future- and while it’s not entirely realistic (for now) it’s still a cool read.

Wall Street staff asked architects to draw up plans for the most energy-efficient houses they could imagine and it got a little wacky (and a lot green) from there. For example, architect William McDonough of the Charlottesville, Va. dreamed up a leaf-like exterior design that absorbs sun, much like solar panels, but embedded in the actual exterior.

Another firm, Cook + Fox created a home with a “biomorphic” skin that reacts to the weather. Like a solar chameleon, this home turns dark in in the sun to insulate the house from heat and when the weather is cloudy or stormy the home turns clear to absorb the maximum amount of energy. Plus this home features a facade that captures rain and condensation (enough to meet the home’s water needs).

And that’s not all either. If you’re interested in some dreamy (perhaps soon to be possible) green home designs, including images, check out the full piece – The Green House of the Future.

For some more realistic green home tips you can try right now, read: Green homes save long term money.