Rotating House a Tree Hugger's Dream Come True

When I was in college a hundred years ago we did a study on various buildings that rotate. As I remember mostly they were watching the stars. The power was from a small motor and the key was an air bearing to support the rotating building. How about several restaurants that rotate on the top of buildings, what is their method of support?

If it looks familar you're probably a buckminster fuller Fan

http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/gif/subpat.jpeg

http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/cities.html

I like it! My only problem with 'environmentally friendly' stuff like this is - are they actually environmentally friendly? I also try to apply a 5 year business plan to equipment meant to save the world. For example, if I install a solar panel to heat water, will it pay for itself in 5 years? Or even hit 50% of the cost? In the UK, most of this stuff , even if you can get planning permission, doesn't. Will the ordinary man in the street (me) go to the expense of putting these things up if they don't pay for themselves in a reasonable time span?

Agreed. I'm aware of many ways to make a house or other structure "green". Nearly all of them involve some capital outlay at the construction end with extremely long payback periods. The best example is the photo-voltaic shingle. The product has become efficient enough to take most houses off the "grid". Most houses would require a $40,000 installation and would have a pay-back period of a bit more than 20 years. Such things will need to become even more efficient and less expensive before "common" installation occurs.

I've only heard of photo-voltaic shingle, but given payback periods, what is the working lifespan of these things? I have mis-givings about longevity of photo electric cells.

I didn't' read anywhere here if the house rotates 360 degrees or if it just does 180 or so then moves back during the night. It seems that 360 would be a waste of energy but easier to time also if it does go 360 how are they taking care of the in coming water and out going waste water?