Solar-powered, modular, emergency/disaster response housing

This paper discusses the use of solar-powered modular housing for nationwide disaster relief. Auburn University has performed a design study that demonstrates its feasibility for a stand-alone power system on 398 ft² ¿Katrina Cottages¿. As a result of Hurricane Katrina, the concept of a ¿Katrina Cottage¿ to house residents temporarily was funded. They are equipped with energy star appliances and quality insulation to minimize heating and cooling requirements. The Park Model 1A comfortably houses up to four people and can be installed anywhere in less than one day with no special site preparation or licensing. Modeling done using PV Design Pro-S and -G and DoE´s Energy 10 shows a solid business model and payback time for inclusion of solar power systems on the Park Model 1A Katrina Cottage. This paper discusses energy payback time, stand-alone operation, system effectiveness, and economic viability of the Model 1A equipped with a 2 kW photovoltaic power system and a 32 ft² solar hot water heating system.