The Switch! Project

Switch! examines the presence and use of energy on a neighborhood, community, and citywide basis. Thus, it shifts away from the design of product interfaces and interactions in the home to forms that have a wider presence in the local and public space.

We continue to explore how design might enable people to relate more deeply and in an ongoing manner to energy use, but at an expanded scale- considering household-household, building-building, neighborhood-neighborhood interactions. To approach this, design must be extended beyond discrete people-product interactions to make visible and tangible the connection to wider-scale and longer-term interactions making up a locality, community, and society.

For further background: www.tii.se/switch, www.tii.se/static, www.tii.se/aware

Objectives

▪ promote the rational uses of energy;
▪ promote renewable energy;
▪ provide and disseminate energy information;
▪ protect the environment;
▪ reduce waste of energy in all sectors of society;

Sunday, April 20, 2008

SAVING ENERGY WITHOUT RENOUNCING DESIGN

Saving energy is a delicate subject. Saving energy not only lowers your electric bills but is the first step in reducing environmental pollution. The design world too has saving energy at heart. Some designers confronting the problem with intelligence and creativity have given birth to objects that are beautiful, functional and above all ecological.

An ecological conscience in the home
Saving Energy without Renouncing Design

"Wattson" is a small energy gauge with a big ecological heart. Wirelessly connected to a switchboard at the electric meter, and located in any room of the house (within thirty meters of the switchboard, straight through the walls), the display immediately shows the monetary value of the energy consumed at any given time by the electrical accessories of the house, including those on stand-by. The color of the light indicates the consumption trend: when consumption is high the light becomes red; when it is low, it stays blue.

To better keep tabs on your situation you can also connect the apparatus to a computer and download up to four weeks of consumption, savings and waste patterns.
The idea comes from a group of designers called (not by coincidence) DIY KYOTO, and proves that it is possible to create objects that are beautiful and at the same time respect Kyoto protocols.

Lighting your house while saving
Saving Energy without Renouncing Design

Another eco-sustainable object is proposed by the young designer Stefano Merlo, who has tried to solve the problem using alternative sources. "Energy Bucket" symbolizes the need to recreate a relationship between man and nature: the bucket-shape of this lamp metaphorically recalls the times when drinking water was hauled directly out of wells by bucket. Illumination is created by a LED inside the bucket. A series of small solar panels that cover the upper part recharge "Energy Bucket" with sunlight, which is then used to illuminate outdoor or indoor spaces.

Ecological designer heating
Saving Energy without Renouncing Design

"Calore Latente" (latent heat) is a unique radiator designed by Simone Bellan. This project, though not yet in production, unites style, function and above all, ecological responsibility. "Calore Latente" saves energy through the use of two different materials, one highly conductive and one refractory. The radiator heats up rapidly and yet releases accumulated heat slowly for a more efficient use of the radiator. Plus "Calore Latente" has a structure composed of modules that can be combined at pleasure, creating entertaining decorative compositions on the walls of your home.

source: scovoloni LINK

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

The first step is undoubtably to choose an appliance whose size corresponds to the real needs of your family.click here

October 20, 2012 at 3:30 AM

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