The Home of the Future
We look at the technology that will come in the next-generation of family homes
PANASONIC’S FUTURE HOME
If you’re interested in futuristic homes and find yourself in Japan, take a trip to the Panasonic Centre in Tokyo. There you’ll find the Eco Ideas House, which is designed to make full use of Panasonic’s diverse portfolio of technology in order to reduce carbon emissions to an absolute minimum while creating a comfortable, practical living environment.
The Eco Ideas House is at the cutting edge of low-carbon living
Power is produced by a combination of solar and fuel cell technology. The roof is covered with PV solar panels which can account for up to 85 per cent of the house’s power needs. The rest of the power is generated by the fuel cell, which runs on hydrogen. All the electricity from the solar panels and fuel cell is pumped into a large lithium-ion accumulator battery, where it is stored until the house requires it.
Heat-pump technology is used to capture heat in the air and transfer it where it is needed. The vacuum insulation panels in the walls ensure that the house stays warm in the winter, while also remaining cool in the summer. Water consumption is reduced through the use of reduced water appliances, like Panasonic’s tilted drum washing machine. Even the glass and surfaces in the house are designed to be stain resistant, to reduce the degree of cleaning and, consequently, water usage.
The functions of the house can be controlled via touch screen panels that allow you to view security cameras, alter the lighting, or even start the shower running so that it’s warm by the time you step into it. There’s even full videoconferencing facilities, so you can be just as productive working from home as you would be in the office.
Ambient light sensors ensure that lighting is always at an optimum level, balancing the house lighting with natural light flowing from the windows and the ceiling. And of course all the lighting comes from low-power, long-life LEDs.
If you’re thinking that Panasonic’s Eco Ideas House is just a marketing gimmick for its visitor centre, think again. Panasonic actually builds homes in Japan through its PanaHome arm. It’s unlikely that we’ll start seeing PanaHome constructions in the UK, but it does go to show that we’re playing catch up in the race to build the home of the future.