honda net zero "smart home" concept. @honda #greenhome #electricvehicle

Imagine coming home from work after a long day in the office and pulling into a house where you know all of the energy needs required are generated on sight.  Engineers with Honda have apparently had their minds wrapped around this concept for awhile now...with origins in Japan back in 2012, welcome Smart Home.  

An electric vehicle can pull double duty and act as a home generator during power outages

This house has been designed from the ground up (literally) to be as efficient as possible while still maintaing the comfort and amenities we are all accustomed to having.  Heating and cooling has been optimized with the use of geothermal (ground source) technology in combination with some very intuitive thinking in using grey water from showers to preheat cool water coming in from the city, or well, supply line.  

Not only is the house self sufficient energy wise, it is beautiful both inside and out.  

LED lighting is used throughout, and I'm not talking about an average LED bulb from your local Lowes or Home Depot. "Honda worked in collaboration with the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis to explore a new form of circadian color control lighting.  Its lighting solution mimics shifts in natural lighting throughout the day and night. Using bright blue-rich light in the daytime, the lights are designed to optimize alertness and energy, while using an amber tone creates a more relaxed atmosphere after the sun goes down."  While all of these technologies and concepts may seem far fetched and surely to be over the top expensive, it is these concepts, that when put into play in the mainstream, can begin to have lasting effects in how we live and interact with our environment...and ultimately become more cost effective (look at Solar Panel prices) and appropriate to a broader range of people.  

Sourced from Gizmag