Tesla Model Home | Highland Park

This speculative home was designed in tandem with the allied design professionals at NextHaus Alliance and with Tesla. The concept for the project is to showcase the Tesla ecosystem of products consisting of their high performance electric cars, car charging systems, solar panels and battery backup systems. These concepts were integral to the home’s design - creating an all electric net positive (meaning it produces more electricity than it uses on an annual basis) high performance ultra modern home, compatible in design with their cars.

For the layout, the house features single floor living with the primary bedroom suite and an office on the main level. The living room has a 14’ high ceiling, while the rest of the first floor has a 10’ ceiling. The higher ceiling allows for the integration of a ‘light shelf’ system, which shades the full height glazing from the south and east summer sun while bouncing daylight deep into the interior of the space. The low winter sun is able to penetrate deep into the space and is absorbed by the darker, radiantly heated floors.

A curved covered patio houses an integral remote controlled shade system that transforms the space into a screened porch when needed.

Four bedrooms are located on the upper floor. A green roof is located over the garage and is accessed from the stair landing. The large solar array is set on the optimally angled second floor roof. The rectilinear geometry of the two story section of the building maximizes the size of the array. The curved patio roof and living room section belie the simplicity and economy of the design. A large battery backup is powered by the solar array, providing power at night and during any power outage.

  • Ducted, zoned high efficiency all electric air source heat pump system for the heating and cooling.

    An ultra high-efficiency CERV (Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator) system will provide controlled ventilation and air filtering. MERV 13 air filters will be used.

    The heating and cooling systems connected to a programmable thermostat, controlled remotely by mobile devices.

    All light fixtures have LED fixtures and be fully dimmable.

    The cooktop will be an induction unit, which is an extremely efficient way to cook. Other appliances are Energy Star rated.

    High efficiency ‘Haiku’ ceiling fans are used in the bedrooms. These are motion activated and take into account the room temperature and humidity.

    The light shelf along the south and east facades shades the interior during the summer and will also bounce light year long deep into the space, reflected up onto the ceiling. The light shelf will also house operable shades and integrated LED lights (inside and out) LED strip lights can be placed on top of the interior of the light shelf to provide accent lighting at night.

    The insulation will have a low embodied carbon footprint. Petroleum based insulations will be avoided.

    Kitchen and bathroom counters, and tile, will be specified with a high level of recycled content.

    Wood flooring, built-ins and custom furniture will use locally sourced wood, be FSC certified from sustainably managed forests and will have low or no VOC’s and no added urea-formaldehyde.

    The concrete mix will contain injected carbon dioxide to permanently capture recycled carbon dioxide into concrete. CarbonCure, CO2Concrete, or a similar company would be used.

    The kitchen will have a built-in recycling center. Composting will be available for each unit.

    Dual flush toilets and low flow plumbing fixtures will be installed. Water efficient Energy Star dishwasher and washing machine will be used.

    There are no combustion appliances in the house with the exception of the backup, high efficiency fireplace. The mechanical system, heat pump water heater, heat pump dryer and the induction cooktop are all electric. This will eliminate CO2 emissions.

    Paints, sealants and adhesives will have no VOC’s.

    Certainteed AIRRENEW drywall, manufactured in Europe, will be used which actively removes formaldehyde from the air, converting it into a safe, inert compound, to help improve indoor air quality.

    Operable windows at strategic location will provide natural fresh-air cross ventilation.

    Telsa branded solar photovoltaic panels on the south slope of the house will provide more power than the home uses on an annual basis.

    Tesla battery backup systems will be incorporated to provide energy storage for the solar photovoltaic system as well as providing electricity if the power goes out.