September 5th, 2008

New Green Home Tech Products Coming Soon

Posted by Cassie Walker

There is so much activity in green tech these days that it can be hard to keep up with it, so here are a few concepts that might be coming to a green home near you. Some are still cost prohibitive, but their innovation serves to move us towards more market-ready solutions.

On the Roof

In power generation, solar continues to heat up. New materials and functionality coming down the pike raises hopes about improved energy production and cost effectiveness. One such invention: solar windowpanes. Created by Japanese manufacturer Nihon Telecommunication Systems, the panes integrate photovoltaic cells capable of powering your cell phone or computer. The panes convert about 8% of the sun’s rays to energy, which is then transferred to your device via USB cable. The panes will also reduce the amount of heat that comes through your house, reducing cooling costs. The catch? They cost $1900/square meter, so for now that’s a steep price to pay for calling your mom or emailing your BFF.

One new technology that may be closer to reality is concentrated photovoltaics. Sunrgi’s system uses a magnifying glass to concentrate the suns rays onto a solar cell, converting more than 37% of sunlight to energy. The panels take up much less space than traditional PV, and don’t rely on silicone. But the big sell here – in addition to efficiency – is cost: the company estimates a price of 5 cents per kilowatt hour, making the technology on par with coal and natural gas. If this turns out to be the case, it could really move solar to the next level of adoption.

Some new technologies are being designed for industrial use, but their concepts hold promise for residential application in the future. For example, a new cogeneration system from SolarWall aims to capture the heat lost by traditional photovoltaic systems and use it for heating. Generally, PV systems are only 8-15% efficient at capturing the sun’s energy – the rest is lost. SolarWall’s product combines PV with a solar thermal system that transfers heat into a building’s HVAC system in winter and away from it in summer. This also serves to shorten the payback period by reducing heating costs.

To keep all of that warm air in, new designs for insulation are hitting the market, like the soy-based and water-blown BioBased Insulation. Many homes are under insulated, but sealing them up tight may also mean reducing the quality of your indoor air. Choosing insulation made from non-toxic materials will help to reduce those chemicals in your home.

Around The House

Why mow your lawn, when the solar hybrid Husqvarna Automower can do it for you? Well, maybe because you don’t have $3,000 to spend on a lawnmower, no matter how cool it is. And this one’s cool. It’s automatic (think Roomba) so there’s no pushing involved. It charges initially via AC power, but then uses its solar power to keep on mowin’. Built in sensors keep it from plowing through your vegetable garden, and when the job is done or the battery gets low, it finds its way back to the garage to recharge. It even has an anti-theft alarm. Now that’s cool.

How would you like a washing machine that uses virtually no water? The British company Xeros is working to market a washing machine that does just that. The new technology tumbles thousands of tiny plastic granules with the clothes to clean them, using less than 2% of the water needed for traditional machines. Feeling skeptical? Tests conducted by the company show that everyday stains like coffee and lipstick were removed, and that clothes were as clean and fresh as those that went through a traditional washing. After “washing” the clothes were also quite dry, reducing the need for mechanical drying. Get me Ripley’s on the phone!

There’s another development in the world of washing machines – a Sanyo model that recycles water for use in future loads. Seems like a good idea, assuming that the water can be filtered enough to actually clean the next load. There’s also an Air Wash function that infuses your clothes with bacteria and odor-killing chemicals without the use of any water. Not so sure about that part…

Eco-friendly TVs are also coming down the pike, like Philips’ aptly named Eco TV. It uses less energy by sensing the amount of ambient lighting in the room, then adjusting its backlighting automatically: the darker the room, the less backlighting. Energy saved! It’s also made of lead-free components, with packaging and manuals made from recycled materials. Of course it’s HD, and has a 42” screen, so you’re not sacrificing viewing pleasure. Just don’t forget to plug it into a power strip, flipping the whole thing off when you hit the hay.

In the Garage

Sure, the Prius is great. But word on the street has it that it’s about to get better, as it’s been reported that Toyota will soon be adding solar panels to the roof, providing enough power to run the air conditioner. OK, so maybe that’s not as exciting as the fuel cell technology that we’ve been waiting for, but at least it will be here in the next year or so.

Another advancement for hybrids is the new plug in kits, like those available from A123 Systems. The kits work by adding an extra battery where the spare tire goes, supplementing the drive train for up to 40 miles (no word on where the spare tire goes now, but surely that’s a small detail). What’s not a detail is the price, upwards of $10,000 once it’s all said and done. Makes us wonder why the electric car hasn’t made more of a comeback?