First Electronics, Now Homes?
I have purchased a TV and cordless phones from Panasonic, but could my future home be manufactured from Panasonic as well? The folks from GreentechMedia toured Panasonic’s “Eco-House” in Japan and produced a slick video of the tour with highlights of green technology.
Features include solar panels, lithium ion batteries for energy storage, passive air circulation, light emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, advanced insulation, a self-cleaning toilet (no details on how that works), and fuel cells. The home has an energy “console” that shows how much energy is produced by the solar cells, how much electricity the house is using, and how much hot water is available. I'd like to have that feature so I don't end up in an ice shower after the kids use all the hot water. Panasonic is considering selling the whole house as a package though its construction division.
It is interesting to watch high tech firms jump into home and energy issues. It wasn't that long ago that a programmable thermostat was considered state of the art. Soon we'll likely have home energy management integrated with telecommunications. I can't wait to turn down my thermostat from my mobile phone when my family forgets.
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