efficient design

Here are a couple great examples of how design and innovation are working hand-in-hand to help reduce our impact on the environment. The following were International Design category winners. Below each image is a brief description so you get the idea.

"Presented with several "awareness" devices intended to make home energy use visible in invasive or subliminal ways, the jury finally decided on Preserve, "a more artistic version of the power meter" as Caplowe called it."

'"If this doesn’t exist already, it’s awesome,' said Caplowe. His fellow jurors agreed that this wonderfully obvious but unrealized invention was not only refreshing but also unique as the only category winner that generated alternative energy.

Starting with the premise that windows account for about 50 percent of the heat gain or loss of a typical house and that window blinds influence that quantity by warming in the winter and shading in the summer, designer Ivan Huber created a Venetian blind system that collects energy from the sun during the day and releases it at night as needed. On sunny days, photovoltaic cells on the blinds’ exterior collect solar energy, which is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack within the valance. At night, the battery powers tiny LED lamps enhanced by a sandwich of materials that spread and diffuse the light: a layer of reflectors facing the window and a network of hexagonal lenses facing the room. The hexagons open to admit air and daylight then close tightly for insulation and privacy. The jury found these blinds to be a bright spot in a tunnel full of some pretty dark, cautionary projects."

Great stuff. It is amazing that the solutions to the environment's problems are right there waiting to be found. Just following the blue prints I guess.

Stay posted for some more original "eco" work to come and photos (and hopefully sound) from an improv recording sesh this afternoon!

- J am on