Autonomous House 1, which the Vales produced as a conceptual design in the 1970s and later built in the 1990s, is based on sustainable ideals. Brenda and Robert Vale collected data that resulted in the design, and later construction, of Autonomous House 1, which could accommodate a family of four. The structure occupies a one-acre plot of land and the most valuable features include its materials, which result in the structure being well-insulated through its building skin, having a low rate of ventilation, and having minimal heating demands. The house includes a substantial south-facing surface that allows natural light into the rooms and only a small number of windows on the north-facing side of the house to minimize heat loss. Some of
