From Clean Tech News
As the majority of the global population is spending more time than ever at home, we explore how cleantech can be incorporated at home to reduce our carbon footprints and lead to a sustainable, energy efficient future.
Here are five of the most innovative cleantech home appliance developments of 2020.
1. Tado – Smart Thermostats
Using smart thermostats, this Germany based company, Tado, connects heating and air conditioning systems to the internet. The smartphone app detects when residents are leaving or approaching their home, and even when windows are opened, to set temperatures efficiently. Connecting to heating and cooling systems to the internet, the technology uses smart algorithms to offer energy saving information.
Recently awarded the 2020 Global Cleantech Europe Company of the Year, their smart thermostats also reached its one-million-unit sales milestone this year, and they continue to be a strong force in the European smart energy field. “Our hardware products are one part of the story. At the heart of tado° is our software, services, and our strong DNA in user experience to deliver outstanding customer satisfaction,” said CEO Toon Bouten.
2. Yoyu – The CleanTech Forecast
This app currently in beta, called Yoyu, is pioneering artificial intelligence to strive towards decarbonisation. The innovative app collects real-time data to register when the wind is blowing a gale or when the sun is shining, in order to let you know when the best time to power appliances with renewable energy. The company proclaims; “We want a future where all energy comes from renewable sources, 100% of the time.”
3. Moxia – Smart Batteries
Moixa, the UK’s leading smart battery company, is making waves in becoming the smart grid of the future and aims to be a global player in the next 10-20 years. The company uses Smart Battery hardware and GridShare software to provide smart energy storage and sharing, as well as using a combined capacity of 50MWH across different countries, which stands as one of the world’s largest virtual power plants (VPPs).
CEO Simon Daniel said: “All over the world, homes are becoming mini-power stations, using solar panels, smart batteries and electric vehicles (EVs) to generate, store and consume significant amounts of power.”
“We have pioneered smart technology that can manage these devices to cut home energy bills and support cost-effective, low-carbon energy systems,” he said.
4. Sense – Energy Use Tracking
Sense is a product that can be installed into a home’s electrical panel to provide real-time insights into energy use and home activity via an IOS, android and web app. Sporting a bright orange box, Sense aims to make all homes as intelligent as possible through its fitness tracker for homes, which can help people save money live safer with more energy-efficient households.
Their technology uses speech recognition so that consumers can monitor their home appliances, determine whether they left appliances running and also identify any energy drains in their home in order to reduce energy usage. “Our mission is to inspire and empower people to make changes to live more sustainably and reduce the planet’s energy consumption, home by home,” said CEO Mike Philips.
5. Mysa – Smart Thermostats
Mysa Smart Thermostats describe themselves as “the only Smart Thermostat that lets you take full control of your electric heat.” Also known as Empowered Homes, the devices originated from a solar-powered heater made from a recycled drink can, which was part of the co-founder Joshua Green’s final assignment whilst studying Mechanical Engineering at Memorial University in 2014.
Six years on and the company has now released a product for electric in-floor heating for households across North America to help consumers save money and be more energy-efficient with the aid of an energy charting feature.