SmartSwitch embeds intelligence into a traditionally simplistic device – the ordinary household light switch. With SmartSwitch, the mindless activity of flipping a switch becomes an informed decision.
Equipped with a network connection and a brake pad, the switch provides its user with tactile feedback about the amount of energy being used either within their household or by the electrical grid as a whole.
SmartSwitch doesn't restrict the user from turning on a light, but rather it passively encourages behavior change. SmartSwitches can be programmed to respond to either personal or communal electrical usage. In a home wired with SmartSwitches, lights can become harder to turn on during hours of peak demand. The switches can also be customized to reflect household-specific energy conservation goals.
The SmartSwitch is designed to be easily integrated into the home. It fits into standard electrical boxes and data communication occurs through the electrical lines.
SmartSwitch redefines the experience of turning on a light. Every time a switch is flipped, an opportunity to change individual behavior is created. And when these changes in behavior are added up across a community, there is potential for profound impact.
29 Comments
A very neat idea, but might you run into problems with households in which members possess different degrees of manual strength? I wouldn't want my six-year old to need to struggle with the light switch.
Donnie - our device essentially has a break pad attached to it that adds a small amount of resistance a person would feel when they adjust the dimmer switch.
What exactly is meant by "tactile feedback"? Does it vibrate or something?
Thank you all for your comments and questions. Below is a link to a video we created which shows our preliminary prototype in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgODydjWPEA
From someone who works for an Electric Utility Company - I love it!
I am sorry...but I think this is really lame....People should be able to make there own decisions...about flipping a switch...otherwise what is the use of you brain?
Great idea. I'd definitely want some of these installed around the house to subtly ask everyone "Do you need this on now??" At a projected cost of a few dollars apiece not a bad deal.
i don't know, do we need more manufactured "nannies" to teach us to be more responsible / sustainable people? the last thing i want after a long day at work is to have my light switch nagging me about how much electricity I'm using.
With CFLs installed, lighting accounts for about 5% of household energy use. This amounts to 300kWh per year (based on 6,000 kWh per year total). 300kWh * $0.11/kWh = $33/year is spent on lighting a household. How much of that total will your device save? How many devices will a household need to make a difference? If you believe in the concept, you may need to rethink the business plan.
This idea is not new : http://www.samsungyoungdesignaward.com/n/31-03-2008-pulse-di-alexandre-tonneau-14-n.htm
this is really great use of existent technology! im looking forward to seeing it implemented...everywhere!
Such a great idea. I always wonder how much energy I'm using and I think most of us could easily cut back on the amount of time we keep the lights on.
Great idea.
Nice. It subtly asks, "Do you really need this light on right now?" We are far too casual with our energy use. I don't read "guilt," I read mindfulness.
Did you read "Nudge" before designing this product? Given that one of the authors is now in the Obama administration, you practically have a presidential endorsement!
Could you make it shock people if they used too much energy? Now that would change behavior:)
I dont think this will work, If my kitchen is dark, I'm going to need to switch on a light to make a cup of tea, regardless of how difficult it is to flick the switch
Sally M.: To build the prototypes, we added $25-$30 of additional parts to the base cost of each dimmer switch. In quantity, however, and with a different mechanism (such as a solenoid actuator instead of a servo), we believe we could get that number down to a few dollars. thanks, -Peter
Leah K.: The quiescent power consumption of the switch is around 50mW -- 1200 times less than a 60W incandescent bulb, and 300 times less than a 15W CFL bulb. If the switch encouraged a user to keep a 60W bulb turned off for just one hour per month, there would be a net positive benefit. We are also exploring alternative mechanisms to the servo motor that would consume substantially less power. thanks, -Peter
Love it! Would be interesting to have a display showing $ spent / day or / week etc on electricity alongside the switch.
Have you thought about adding a LED or something that signals when electricity use is high? I'm just thinking about how to extend this feedback to when the lights are already on - and try to encourage someone to turn them off. Something blinking maybe?
Excellent idea...Do you have a sense what the cost will be?
It's a good concept for this type of contest, but a bit Rube Goldberg in execution and, unless I'm missing something, not very practical or likely effective in use. It's my understanding that I'm supposed to replace every switch in my house with this expensive version so I'll feel guilty when I need light at home? What if the grid is using a lot, but I only want one light on in my house - will this give me tactile guilt and a headache as I try to read in the dim light that my green conscie
I like how your system can change/influence people's every-day behavior. That's where energy conservation and efficiency starts. great project!
Now, if you could only make something that would prevent you from leaving the room without turning the switch off!!! I guess if I entered the next room and it wouldn't let me turn on the light until I'd turned the last one off, I'd learn really quickly. I love this, good luck!
What is the energy use for having the detection system on all of the time as compared to just a regular passive light switch that really is OFF when it's off? Thanks. Cool project.
Great idea! Flipping on light switches becomes so second nature that sometimes I turn on lights in rooms that are more than adequately lit by the sun. Having a responsive light switch that makes one think about switching on the ligh would really ma
Looks like a cool haptics system!
Add a Comment
Commenting is now closed. Thank you to all those who have participated.