In a bid to get people to buy into energy saving, the team invited four design agencies to create ideas that would make energy saving desirable.
‘We thought what if energy saving products looked so good that people, well, just wanted them,’ says Jennie Winhall. The responses included some intriguing concepts and potential new products.
Concrete Blond came up with wallpaper – made of concrete. These are insulating panels made of concrete but decorated with traditional wallpaper patterns which could be fitted inside your home on exterior-facing walls. The cavity behind the panels could filled with insulating foam to reduce heat loss. It’s ideal for older homes with solid walls that are difficult to insulate any other way.
Meanwhile More Associates thought about an off switch for houses. The EnergyLock door latch displays the energy use of your home at the moment you exit and provides a single, simple switch to turn off all unnecessary devices while you’re out. The company also come up with the concept of an electricity meter so beautiful that you’d want to hang it on the wall and display your household energy use.
Conran & Partners updated uPVC windows for the 21st century. Unlike current uPVC windows they don’t try to replicate wooden frames – in these the amount of visible plastic has been reduced so you get more window for your money.
