This hypothetical switch allows the user to choose what type of energy is powering their home – more an exercise in energy source awareness than anything. Yes, that’s nuclear in the top left spot. The design is part of STATIC!, a project by the Interactive Institute:

Electricity, as a product, is easily reduced to an abstract, invisible phenomenon whose only concrete representations are ‘two holes in the wall’. In a series of design examples, we explore how everyday products might be designed to better express – and thus stimulate reflection on – daily or long-term patterns of energy use.

Several of the designs are both insightful and beautiful – however Vestal friend Serge de Gheldere of Futureproof/ed criticizes the Power-Aware Cord pictured to left, for actually encouraging higher energy usage. Apparently people using the prototype would often plug in as many appliances as they could to see the cord glow bright blue… not exactly the point.

Related Posts: Energy Efficiency Rehab, Energy Mapping

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See Also: Tide Coldwater Detergent,Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor,Green Office Supplies: Part II,

This entry was posted by Jeffrey Warren on Monday, May 1st, 2006 at 8:20 am and is filed under Design, Environment, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.