Designer Danny Taylor found that most energy monitors do little to engage with children, so he created an interface for a light that attempts to inform children of energy wastage without bombarding them with data and statistics that they will not naturally engage with. This simple ‘dimmer switch’ humanizes an ordinarily ubiquitous object to help the child form a relationship with it. The act of turning the light on creates a ‘sad’ face, and turning it off makes the character ‘happy’.

+ Danny Daylor

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", danny taylor, dimmer switch, energy efficient lights, energy monitor, green design, green design for children, green interface, green intriors, Interactive Objects, kid-friendly green design, sustainable design, Sustainable Interiors

Sometimes the best designs out there are not ‘products’ that can be purchased — but big ideas made accessible to all through the power of Do-It-Yourself design. The award-winning EnerJar takes the important concept of home energy monitoring, and brings it to the masses in a fun, interactive way through a handy, downloadable DIY design that can be put together using a jam jar and other household objects. By turning energy monitoring into an engaging DIY project the Enerjar took first prize in our recent Greener Gadgets Competition. Designed by Matt Meshulam and Zach Dwiel, this little downloadable DIY kit uses common household materials to monitor the energy output of a variety of everyday devices, allowing a user to take personal responsibility over energy use.

Read the rest of ENERJAR: Make your own energy meter with the DIY Enerjar Kit!

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Post tags: DIY energy meter, energy meter, energy monitor, Enerjar, green gadgets, Greener Gadgets, greener gadgets competition, home energy monitoring device, homemade energy meter, matt meshulam, zach dwiel

How would you like to be paid to save some energy? That is the concept behind “demand-response” a process in which energy companies pay users to use less power. There are a number of companies that are able to manage this process, but only one of them does it with style, by using the Energy Joule, designed by Ambient Systems (we mentioned them earlier today as the makers of the Ambient Orb)

Read the rest of ENERGY JOULE: Get paid for your energy reduction

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Post tags: ambient orb, color, energy joule, energy monitor, energy orb, energy use, home joule, Wired

As energy-conscious citizens, wouldn’t it be great to know the best (and cheapest) times to use more or less energy? Thanks to a clever little gadget and an equally clever manager at the Southern California Edison power company, that info could easily be at your fingertips with the Energy Orb.


Read the rest of THE ENERGY ORB: Visualize Electricity Consumption!

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Post tags: ambient orb, color, energy monitor, energy orb, energy use, Wired