the future of home technology

Green Technology

Some of the most exciting technologies in the LivingHome are the ones you don't see -- and they are all about sustainability and energy-saving. "People tend to think of living in a 'Wired' way as having a bunch of gadgets, which is a piece of it for sure, but...technology is also a part of how things are built both sustainably and smartly. We believe technology is driving many of the things that make green living possible," Draisin told CNN.

A major prediction illustrated in LivingHome is that houses will become adaptive. Technologies like automatic thermal blinds, motorized windows and vent systems will activate across the exterior of the house in response to temperature, angle of the sun and wind to keep internal conditions stable and conserve energy. Wired writer, Bob Parks explained: "Your house exterior will be like an expensive Gore-Tex hiking jacket -- if you feel a bit too hot or cold here or there, just open a flap or zip up a vent."

Automated sprinkler systems are hardly cutting edge but the lawns outside WiredHome will be studded with hi-tech sensors which measure when it last rained, adjust the sprinkler systems to stop the grass from drying out and avoid wasting water. In the kitchen, smart appliances supplied by Bosch use sophisticated computer chips to save water and energy. Sensors in the washing machine and dishwasher measure the dirtiness of water so washing cycles end when plates and clothes are clean. The tumble dryer is smart enough to switch off when clothes are dry rather than continue to the end of a pre-programmed time.

Even with all this energy saving, the LivingHome needs power and it exploits the latest renewable energy technologies which can create lots of energy in a domestic setting. A 4-kilowatt SunPower Corporation solar power system helps the house be 36 per cent more efficient than a comparable conventional home. The house also has lofty ambitions to make its human occupants a bit smarter. Loaded onto a home computer, the Lucid home energy dashboard shows real-time energy use so inhabitants can see the results of their activities and modify their behaviour to be more energy efficient.

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