Eureka $mart House Energy Efficiency Challenge

I love science fiction, and naturally enjoy the Sci-Fi Channel from time to time. Of course, the new Battlestar Galactica is one of my very favorite shows. Now I have another reason to enjoy the Sci-Fi Channel - their $mart House Energy Efficiency Challenge. It's part of Sci-Fi's Visions for Tomorrow program, which promotes a positive vision of the future enabled by empowered individuals. The challenge highlights energy saving tips and technology by giving one lucky winner a $25,000 home energy makeover, including:

• Overall energy audit to identify energy problems and document what might be undertaken to make the home more energy-efficient by CMC Energy Services


• Whirlpool ENERGY STAR-labeled kitchen and laundry appliances


• Computer and energy-efficient electronics and wiring of the home by Consumer Electronics Association and their member companies


• Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting by OSRAM Sylvania


• Sealing of all air leaks by The Dow Chemical Company


• Appropriate insulation for the winner's particular climate


• Programmable thermostat


• Low-flow shower head


• Faucet aerators


• Ventilating fan, and much more

Sounds good. Enter here.

Via Climate Progress

Sycamore Ceiling Fan - Inspired by Nature

It's always been wise to study and duplicate nature, and the recent push by designers to do so is wonderful. Results are often quite amazing. Case in point, look at this elegant ceiling fan from Australia. Modeled on the wing-like shape of a seed pod from a Sycamore tree, the Sycamore Ceiling Fan can create the same airflow as conventional flat-winged fans but at much lower speeds. The result is lower energy consumption, far less noise, and great modern looks. Nice.




Personally, I dislike air conditioning for a lot of reasons. A nice fan or two, in combination with good insulation and shading, proper siting of the house, and cross-ventilating windows, ought to do the trick in many parts of the country for most of the time. This nature-inspired fan would be a nice part of that simple cooling strategy.

Via Your Abode .... Environmentality

Image credit - Sycamore Ceiling Fan site

Futuristic Kitchen Module from Gorenje Ora-ito

This is certainly interesting. It looks like something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I like it!



It's a futuristic, modular kitchen by European appliance giant, Gorenje, designed by Frenchman Ora Ito, the "Enfant terrible of Industrial Design." I love that. Somebody told me I was "subversive" once, and to this day that was the highest compliment I have ever been paid. I only wish I could be more subversive every day.

I like the inspiration:

"Simplexity. Simple and complex. With unnecessary surplus taken away, only the clean design lines remain. The simple design that surrounds us is the futuristic kitchen today and tomorrow. Simple clean lines mirror design for the future when vision becomes reality."

Via Materialicio.us

Image credit - Gorenje site