rethinking design - Spatial Design@Massey

ethinking design
WhisperGen
The WhisperGen microCHP system is a New Zealand designed
solution to appropriate energy generation in the developed world
(fig.14). It is a gas fired product for home use that not only provides
heat as an energy efficient boiler heating system but while doing so
generates electricity to supplement the grid supply. The system does
rely on being grid connected and is therefore not designed as a
stand-alone or back-up power generator. In cities with reliable mains
power however it acts to provide a user with cheaper energy costs, it
lessens their dependence on mass energy production and reduces
CO2 emissions overall. The WhisperGen also requires minimal
space, being designed to fit either under a bench like a dish washer
or tucked away in a cupboard.
Fig.14
Smart Meters
Smart Meters (such as the Centameter) (fig.15) do not generate
energy but are an appropriate solution to the energy problem in the
developed world where people are extraordinarily wasteful with
electricity. Smart Meters display a households total electricity costs
in real time, enabling users to more closely control their power usage
and save money by monitoring how much power is used at any
given moment. They provide increased knowledge about how much
certain appliances cost to run, allowing informed decisions to be
made about power usage in the home. Understanding the cost of
operating electrical appliances is the first step towards reducing
energy use, electricity bills and greenhouse gas emissions.
Fig.15