One of the newest exhibits at the Museum of Science of Industry that is causing quite a buzz is Smart Home - Green + Wired. A 2,500 square-foot home designed to showcase green living has made its home on the museum's east lawn. Alison Cuddy, of Chicago Public Radio's 848, recently toured the home with project director Anne Rashford.
Blogging NPR: Smart Home - Green + Wired
The home was conceived by Michelle Kauffmann Designs and showcases the latest in eco-living, as well as demonstrating examples of sustainable gardens, solar panels, green roofs and more.
Throughout the home, call outs give viewers ideas on how to implement a little green into their homes with simple ideas such as changing to low flow showerheads, painting with no VOC paints and installing dual-flush toilets. One of the most interesting aspects of the home, however, is that its energy use is monitored in real time on a flat screen display. Dwellers can take note of both energy production and what is being consumed.
According to Anne Rashford, everything in the home is already on the market, “It is a home of today, a home of now.” Although she does states that she doesn’t expect everyone to build a home like the Smart Home, but rather be inspired to make thoughtful decisions when building a home, installing new toilets, changing lightbulbs, etc.
There are some unorthodox items (some may say "silly") in the home, as well. For instance, if a child wants to play with a video game, they must ride a bike for 30 minutes to generate enough electricity for his/her game. And the houseplants will call you on the phone to let you know it needs to be watered.
Smart Home - Green + Wired runs through January 2009 at the Museum of Science and Industry. To listen to Alison Cuddy’s entire podcast visit 848’s Web site.
Have you been to the exhibit? What are your impressions of the "Greenest Home in Chicago"?
More Smart Home on AT:
House Tour: Michelle Kaufmann's Smart Home
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that dining room table is awesome
view little flower - a.k.a. Fiorella, not DUDE thank yo's profile
where did they find that table? we've been looking for a similar table - does anyone know where we can find something like that?
view Atomic Shogun's profile
I went to the exhibit when I was visiting Chicago recently. It was a very cool exhibit. In the museum guide you could see where to buy everything in the house, which made it seem half museum half sales pitch. If I remember correctly the table was made from a tree that fell after a storm in the furniture designer's back yard. Unfortunately, I can't remember the designer's name.
view Mota Rose's profile
I saw something very similar over at Silho's sale (LA) It was gorgeous it had 2 cracks going through part of the table and they were held together by a series of contrasting hourglass shaped wood pieces.
It's called "Graham Dining Table"
http://www.silhofurniture.com/products/detail.php?pid=328&plid=3
I love it but it's waaayy out of my price range. ;_;
view a6sinthe's profile
Love that table -- love it.
view dblitz1's profile
I shall forever lust after that table until the storm of the semi-decade blows through San Diego and sends a non-native invasive Eucalyptus toppling over, upon which I will lay seige with a chainsaw and hopefully come out with something better than my Target table.
view pussycow!'s profile