Multipurpose utility structure

Abstract

A system and method of creating and operating a utility structure coupled to a second structure is provided. A utility structure can include a renewable energy source, a control system, water heating system, a communications system, and a solar hot air module. In connection with these features, a utility structure can provide utility access, heated and/or cooled water, and HVAC to the connected structure. A utility structure can be free standing, portable, or attached to another structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utility structure configured to provide at least one utility capability to at least one other structure, the utility structure comprising:
 a housing;   an electric power generation system configured to provide electric power;   a control board disposed within the housing and configured to receive electric power from the electric power generation system;   a first fluid storage tank disposed within the housing;   a fluid heating system configured to receive fluid from the first fluid storage tank and add thermal energy to the fluid; and   a chase configured to connect the housing to the at least one other structure.   
     
     
         2 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a shed. 
     
     
         3 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a floor configured to be mounted to a foundation and/or configured to be mounted to a wheeled chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a fluid capture system, an energy storage system configured to receive electric power from the control board, a communication system, a solar hot air module disposed at least partially within the housing, a thermal hot air matrix configured to receive heated fluid from the fluid heating system and to transfer thermal energy from the heated fluid to air, a bathroom module. 
     
     
         5 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the fluid capture system comprises a gutter configured to receive precipitation from a roof of the housing and a downspout configured to receive precipitation from the gutter. 
     
     
         6 . The utility structure of  claim 5 , wherein the downspout is configured to direct precipitation away from the gutter, the downspout is configured to direct precipitation to the fluid storage tank, and/or the downspout is disposed outside of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The utility structure of  claim 5 , further comprising a fluid filtration system disposed between the downspout and the first fluid storage tank and/or further comprising a second fluid storage tank configured to receive precipitation from the downspout. 
     
     
         8 . The utility structure of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the second fluid storage tank is disposed outside of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid heating system comprises a heated fluid storage tank. 
     
     
         10 . The utility structure of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the heated fluid storage tank is disposed within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The utility structure of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid heating system comprises at least one solar hot water panel configured to receive fluid from the heated fluid storage tank, receive thermal energy from sunlight, transfer the received thermal energy to the fluid received from the heated fluid storage tank to heat the received fluid, and return the heated fluid to the heated fluid storage tank. 
     
     
         12 . The utility structure of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid heating system comprises an electrical coil disposed at least partially within the heated fluid storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . The utility structure of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical coil is configured to receive electric power from the control board to add thermal energy to fluid disposed within the heated fluid storage tank. 
     
     
         14 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the electric power generation system comprises at least one solar panel, at least one wind turbine, a geothermal system and/or a hydroelectric system. 
     
     
         15 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the control board comprises an inverter, a direct current disconnect, a high voltage charge controller. 
     
     
         16 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a battery or a plurality of batteries. 
     
     
         17 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the communication system comprises one or more of a satellite receiver, a Wi-Fi transmitter, and a signal repeater. 
     
     
         18 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the solar hot air module comprises a solar module configured to receive thermal energy from sunlight incident on the solar module and a solar panel disposed over the solar module, wherein the solar panel is configured to transfer the received thermal energy to air within the panel. 
     
     
         19 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the solar module is disposed at least partially outside of the housing, wherein the solar panel comprises a fan configured to draw air from outside the panel into the panel, and/or wherein the solar panel comprises a vent configured to exhaust air from the panel. 
     
     
         20 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal hot air matrix is disposed at least partially within the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal hot air matrix comprises a fan configured to direct the air in one or more directions. 
     
     
         22 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , further comprising. 
     
     
         23 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the bathroom module is disposed at least partially within the housing or is disposed outside of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The utility structure of  claim 4 , wherein the bathroom module comprises a sink and a shower. 
     
     
         25 . The utility structure of  claim 24 , wherein the sink and shower are configured to receive fluid from the first fluid storage tank and/or wherein the sink and shower are configured to receive fluid from the fluid heating system. 
     
     
         26 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the chase comprises a first conduit configured to fluidly couple the first fluid storage tank to the at least one other structure. 
     
     
         27 . The utility structure of  claim 26 , wherein the first conduit is configured to fluidly couple the fluid heating system to the at least one other structure. 
     
     
         28 . The utility structure of  claim 26 , wherein the first conduit comprises a pipe. 
     
     
         29 . The utility structure of  claim 1 , wherein the chase comprises an electrical connection configured to electrically couple the control board to the at least one other structure. 
     
     
         30 . The utility structure of  claim 29 , wherein the chase comprises a second conduit configured to fluidly couple the housing to the at least one other structure. 
     
     
         31 . The utility structure of  claim 30 , wherein the second conduit comprises a duct. 
     
     
         32 . A method of transferring air from a first structure to a second structure, the method comprising:
 disposing a fluid storage tank in the first structure;   fluidly coupling the heated fluid storage tank to a fluid heating system, wherein the fluid heating system comprises at least one solar hot water panel configured to receive thermal energy from sunlight;   transferring received thermal energy from the solar hot water panel to fluid received from the fluid storage tank to heat the fluid;   directing the heated fluid to a heated fluid storage tank;   directing fluid from the heated fluid storage tank to a thermal hot air matrix;   directing air over the thermal hot air matrix to transfer thermal energy from the fluid within the thermal hot air matrix to the air to heat the air;   transferring the heated air from the first structure to the second structure.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 providing a solar hot air module configured to transfer thermal energy from sunlight to air disposed within a panel of the solar hot air module; and   directing air from the panel to the second structure.   
     
     
         34 . A vehicle or portable structure comprising a utility structure according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         35 . The vehicle or portable structure of  claim 34 , wherein the vehicle or portable structure is selected from the group consisting of a trailer, a truck, a semi truck, a tractor trailer, a recreational vehicle selected from a fifth wheel or a motorhome, a houseboat, a ship, and an aircraft.