# Curtains as Solar Energy Collectors The Soft House Project By David Legierski | Published 2008-06-13 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/green-energy-textiles-sheila-kennedy-soft-house References: [ecogeek.org](http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/1754) & [kvarch.net](http://www.kvarch.net/#project/soft_house) This one is to all who are afraid of [electricity black-outs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solix-e10). Designed by Kennedy and his team from KVA Matx, Soft House is a structur, which create close to 16k watt-hours of electricity by transforming [household curtains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/curtain-house) into flexible, semi-transparent, solar collectors. Unfortunately, the current high cost of photovoltaic textiles makes this idea unreachable. However, the Soft House project shows that [renewable energy technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-wanda) can be applied into architectural design in ways that have never been thought of before. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 38% | Activity: 8% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Photovoltaic Textiles:** The development of affordable and efficient photovoltaic textiles could revolutionize the integration of solar energy into everyday objects such as curtains. - **Architectural Design:** The Soft House project highlights the innovative potential of incorporating renewable energy technologies into architectural design for energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. - **Flexible Solar Collectors:** Advancements in flexible, semi-transparent solar collectors could offer new opportunities for generating electricity from unconventional sources like household curtains. ### Where This Applies - **Renewable Energy:** The renewable energy industry can explore the potential of photovoltaic textiles and flexible solar collectors for widespread use in various applications, including architecture and design. - **Textile Manufacturing:** The textile manufacturing industry can invest in research and development to produce affordable and efficient photovoltaic textiles for integration into various consumer products, such as curtains. - **Architecture and Design:** Architects and designers can embrace the concept of incorporating renewable energy technologies into their projects, providing innovative and sustainable solutions for energy generation and consumption. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Solar Panel Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-tapestry.md) - [Solar-Powered Curtain Controllers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/switchbot-curtain-3.md) - [Flexible Solar Film Energy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heliafilm.md) - [Grid-Connected Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-electric-pavilion.md) - [Solar Energy Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/michael-jantzen-2.md) - [Chic Curved Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/curved-house1.md) - [Solar Powered Compact Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e55000.md) - [Consolidated Photovoltaic Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/photovoltaic-systems.md) - [Heritage Building-Blending Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invisible-solar.md)