Students at the University of Cambridge have been awarded first prize in an international design competition for their AlgaeHouse concept, a design for an energy and carbon-neutral house powered entirely by algae.
Dispel any thoughts of a slimy, moist underground cave or greenhouse: the team's designs are stylish, neat and modern. The house features a sweeping, angled window which in addition to looking rather impressive, houses a number of tubes containing algae which have been genetically engineered for maximum photosynthetic efficiency: when deprived of sulphur, algae will produce hydrogen, which can be fed into a fuel cell for conversion into electricity.
