The Smart Home, created by Ausgrid and Sydney Water, showcases the latest energy and water solutions to help communities face the challenges of the 21st century.
Located in Sydney’s Olympic suburb of Newington, the Smart Home not only contains the latest in energy efficient technologies, it provides the opportunity for real families to put them to the test.
The Smart Home:
The Ausgrid Smart Home included the following technology features:
- generates its own electricity on site, and exports any surplus electricity back to the grid
- uses two types of solar panels – rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and an innovative solar pergola
- has its own ceramic fuel cell that converts natural gas into electricity, one of the first in the country
- includes a battery storage unit to store the solar and fuel cell power generated during the day for use at night
- furnishings made from recycled and sustainable materials
- showcases more than 20 energy- and water-efficient appliances
- contains state-of-the-art LED lighting and a device to remove standby power in the lounge room to reduce both bills and carbon emissions
- uses recycled water, which reduces the amount used by more than half that used in a traditional home of similar size.
This Smart Home allows Ausgrid and Sydney Water the chance to learn and make better choices for the future. It also allows the wider community to share the experience.
The Smart Home is being tested by a real family, in real time, with information broadcast via the internet.
Acknowledgements
- Builder: Daniel Girling Butcher
- Architect: Ellen Woolley and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
- Garden: Steve Garland Landscapes
- Plumbing: Greg Carter, Enviropoint/ Point Plumbing
- Lighting: Peter McLean, Lighting Art and Science
- Electrical: Ausgrid
Detailed Information