Panel reveals the Smart E-Home of the future

30 July 2019

From smart bed sheets that can modify temperature, to colour, fabric and shape-changing AI furniture - experts reveal what the Smart E-Home of the future could look like

Experts have come together to visualise what the smart eco home - the Smart E-Home - of the future could look like, complete with smart toilets, living rooms which transform colour, texture and shape via voice command, community-based electric vehicle car-pooling and living kitchens with hydroponic fruit and veg gardens.

Smart Energy GB, Go Ultra Low and a panel of experts passionate about the environment, engineering, architecture, futurology and electric vehicles, met to discuss the technologies evolving now which could mean that these innovations become a reality in the not too distant future.

Key components include:

Bed sheets which can be different temperatures according to bed partners' individual preferences
Smart cushions and furniture which change colour, fabric and texture using augmented reality, reducing the need to replace them when you redecorate
Hydroponic indoor gardens which, with efficient light use, will mean we'll have fresh vegetables to harvest in our own kitchens - these could take up as much space as a wall cabinet or bookshelf
An electric vehicle charging station and vehicle - one giant battery for your home and energy for neighbourhood usage, with neighbourhood carpooling providing an alternative to public transport
Bathrooms which track your health statistics in real-time
Toilets which turn waste into fuel

Smart meters, which are the building blocks of a smart energy grid, are a key part of this future. They will provide the grid with information to add more capacity when needed, change our electricity consumption patterns and make it easier to add electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines and heat pumps to the energy system.

Smart Energy GB also commissioned research which reveals that 70% of adults would like a more eco-friendly home, but two in 10 (20%) don't know how to go about it and over two thirds (67%) think it's too expensive. Despite this, 83% of Brits are interested in new technology which would make their homes greener.

The poll of 2,000 adults revealed that owning a composting bin and energy efficient whitegoods, and having a smart meter and a water efficient showerhead installed, are just some of the small steps the nation is already taking to create a more sustainable way of living.

Looking to the future, Brits predict the Smart E-Home would have a giant battery to store energy from the sun and include windows which adapt to light to keep your home hot or cold without the need for heating or air conditioning.

Others anticipate a life where we can live entirely on recycled rainwater, or even having micro-turbines in homes to help generate energy (27%).

Dr Ian Pearson, Futurologist, comments:

"The future will give us richer lives with a lower environmental impact. It's encouraging to see adults will prioritise reducing their energy demand via smart windows, solar panels and paints, and small wind energy harvesters, and then using smart meters to allow any extra energy to be sourced from renewables."

1,000 children were also surveyed and agree with the experts that the future holds toilets which turn waste into fuel. Some youngsters also predict glass domes to capture energy from sunlight and even people living underwater.

And whilst both adults and children think that this home won't be a reality for another 23 years, it's not actually that far off at all. The small steps we are taking now, such as requesting a smart meter from our energy suppliers, will pave the way for the future Smart E-Home.

Dr Ian Pearson continues: "Making homes greener certainly won't mean making them low tech. With the Smart E-Home, it will be possible for us to entirely redecorate our homes without buying new fixtures or fittings. Instead we'll use augmented reality and smart furniture made from reconfigurable materials. Our homes will use renewable energy, stored in home batteries, and will make our lives easier. Hydroponics, for example, will grow fresh salad and herbs, reduce the number of trips to the shops while improving our diet. Special LED lighting will provide the colours of light that plants prefer, avoiding waste, and of course smart meters can provide the energy for this lighting when it is cheapest.

"We know electric transport will grow rapidly in popularity, especially now that EV charging points will be compulsory in new-build homes. Smart meters and smart charging will support this transition, helping us charge EVs with cheaper, greener energy. there might even be instances where you could get paid to charge your car when the power system needs us to use more power. This often happens when there is too much renewable energy on the system.

"Smart has to mean smart to the environment, smart in using new technology, and smart in how we control it."

Robert Cheesewright, Director of Corporate Affairs, Smart Energy GB concludes:

"Smart meters are bringing the future into our homes today. They're the first step to being in control of our energy use, of saving money by using energy more efficiently, and helping to create a smart energy grid.

"A smart grid makes it easier for us to draw on and store electricity when it's less in demand, and then use it again when scarce or more expensive later in the day. Together, smart meters and a smart grid help to create a cleaner, greener Britain."

To see the Smart E-Home - go to https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/smart-living/the-smart-e-home-of-2030

-ENDS-

Learn how smart meters will pave the way for the future Smart E-Home here https://www.smartenergygb.org/en/smart-living/the-smart-e-home-of-2030
Smart Energy GB together with a panel of experts and Go Ultra Low, have visualised the smart eco-home of the future - the Smart E-Home, which will help build a cleaner, greener Britain
The small steps we are taking now, such as requesting a smart meter, will pave the way for the future Smart E-Home
Smart meters help to create a smart grid with more capacity and mean that people can take advantage of low-cost tariffs and green energy
Smart meters and electric vehicles play an important part in helping Britain become a lower carbon economy, enabling households to use renewable energy and make a real contribution to a more sustainable environment
More and more people are switching to electric vehicles as they realise the environmental and air quality benefits to be had, in addition to the numerous financial savings they offer. 100% electric cars cost from as little as 3p per mile to run, compared to 8-11p per mile for petrol or diesel cars. In addition, with most drivers usually charging their electric vehicles at home, overnight, smart metering helps you to do so using cheaper and greener electricity - a great way of reducing your fuel costs even further, whilst taking care of the planet at the same time
Smart meters, used with a smart charger, will allow you to charge your electric vehicle when demand is lowest, taking advantage of cheaper, greener energy
An increased uptake in electric vehicles means an increase in energy demand and as a nation we need to manage this demand as smartly as possible. A smart grid (for which smart meters are an essential component) will be an important part in the transition to electric vehicles

Notes to editors

Top 10: What adults think the home of the future will look like:

Everything will be powered by renewable energy such as solar power or wind power
Solar panel paint and solar panel windows which can capture the sun's natural energy to be used within the house
Windows that change shade in reaction to external light so you can keep your house warm or cool without having to use radiators or air conditioning
Smart meters that help us manage our electricity use so that we can cut down on energy waste and use greener, cheaper energy
All cars will be battery operated
Each house will have a giant battery to store energy from the sun and use it when you need it
Living entirely on recycled rainwater that is filtered, cleaner and reused within the house
Toilets which turn waste into fuel which is then used to heat and provide energy to the house
No more switches - sensors will entirely control lights and appliances as you move around the house
Recycling bins built into kitchen appliances for easier recycling (e.g. in fridges etc)

Top 10: What children think the home of the future will look like:

Everything will be powered by renewable energy such as solar power or wind power
All cars will be battery operated
Each house will have a giant battery to store energy from the sun and use it when you need it
A system to recycle water in the home such as being able to easily clean a car with old bath water
Smart meters that give us control over every aspect of our energy use so that we can cut down on energy waste and use greener, cheaper energy
Recycling bins built into kitchen appliances for easier recycling (e.g. in fridges etc)
Windows that change shade in reaction to external light so you can keep your house warm or cool without having to use radiators or air conditioning
No more light switches - sensors will entirely control lights
People will grow all their own food inside the house
Toilets which turn waste into fuel

*Survey conducted by One Poll, total sample size 2,000 adults and 1000 children

Fieldwork undertaken in July 2019.

For more media enquiries including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, photography and additional quotes please contact the Smart Energy Media team:

Email: [email protected]

Dami Ahed - Dani.Ahmed@hkstrategies - 0207 9735 932 - Hill+Knowlton Strategies

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the campaign for a smarter Britain. It's our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to be cleaner and greener with their energy use. Our national campaign is reaching households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website: www.smartenergyGB.org

About smart meters and the rollout

Smart meters replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They enable accurate bills, near real time information on energy use in pounds and pence, and greater control over the way we buy and use energy. the smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain's energy infrastructure.

There are already almost 14 million smart meters installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Contact your energy supplier to request your smart meter today.