Save the Earth, Do This!

With the idea of a withering planet filling our heads, we all ,at one time or another, think of ways with which we could reduce our carbon footprint. Even if we find the smallest ways to reduce our energy consumption, we can help extend the life of our planet. One of the best examples of energy-saving technology and methods lies on Chicago's Southside, at the famous Museum of Science and Industry. It has been dubbed "The Smart Home", because it is a practical, aesthetically pleasing home that gives its owners peace of mind about how they might be impacting the Earth. There are many features of the house that lead to its ability not only to have low energy consumption, but also to throw energy back to the grid. By way of a personal wind turbine and solar cell technology, the energy produced by the home can, at times, outweigh how much energy is actually needed. Some other impressive features of the home include bamboo flooring, an inductance surface in the kitchen, and the fact that the entire hose is modular. The house is actually several components that were put together with cranes. This opens up the idea that houses could be mass-produced and shipped to their future owners. But, if you don't feel like ordering a house right now, there are simple things that you can do to reduce energy consumption. Such things include, unplugging any electronics that pull power from the outlet, even when they're not in use. These items include all kids of chargers, coffee pots, game systems, or anything that uses a standby light, really. Also, by recycling water, one can start to reduce their impact on Earth. Rainwater or any water that has been used throughout the house (except toilet of course) can be used to water plants in the garden. There are many ways to reduce how much energy we use up; it's up to us to decide how active we'll be in this initiative.

MSI's Smart Home