The increasing usage of computer technology in our everyday life and especially in our homes and the increasing demand for sustainable life style concepts raise the question of how to combine these two trends. Can we make smart homes sustainable or sustainable homes smart? This paper discusses current trends and challenges arising with these questions and proposes a sustainable smart home approach. Presented at ICT4S 2013, the First International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Sustainability, held in Zurich, February 2013, http://www.ict4s.org

1. Building
Sustainable
Smart
Homes
Marco
Blumendorf
TU-­‐Berlin
/
yetu
AG

2. I‘ll
talk
about
...
• Defining
sustainability
• Sustainable
homes
-­‐>
Shall
we
make
them
smart?
• Technology
/
Smart
Homes
-­‐>
Can
we
make
them
sustainable?
• Sustainable
Smart
Homes
• The
End...

3. Having
a
look
around...

4. Defining
Sustainability
• Brundtland
Commission
(1987):
“development
that
meets
the
needs
of
the
present
without
compromising
the
ability
of
future
generaSons
to
meet
their
own
needs”

5. Defining
Sustainability
• Karl-­‐Henrik
Robèrt
(The
Natural
Step):
“the
only
processes
that
we
can
rely
on
indefinitely
are
cyclical;
all
linear
processes
must
eventually
come
to
an
end”

6. Defining
Sustainability
Holling:
The
heart
of
sustainability
are
“structure[s]
in
which
systems
of
nature
[…],
of
humans
[…]
and
combined
human-­‐nature
systems
are
interlinked
in
never-­‐ending
adapSve
cycles.”
From
hbp://www.resalliance.org/index.php/panarchy
“We
recognize
that
human
behavior
and
nature’s
dynamic
are
linked
in
an
evolving
system.
We
realize
that
the
seeming
paradox
of
change
and
stability
inherent
in
evolving
systems
is
the
essence
of
sustainable
futures.”
⇒
Cyclic
&
Evolving

7. Sustainable
Homes
...
• use
of
environmental
friendly
resources
for
building
and
living
• harvest
and
grow
what
is
needed
(water,
energy,
food,
...)
• reuse
and
recycle
(water,
heat,
cold,
compost,
...)
• opSmize
processes
(venSlaSon,
air
flows,
energy
usage,
...)
• opSmize
consumpSon,
minimize
where
needed
• are
comfortable
and
inspiring
• provide
a
healthy
living
environment
and
sSmulate
producSvity
• provide
security
and
safety
• integrate
into
(local)
economies
and
communiSes

8. Sustainable
Homes
–
3
Types
• natural/back
to
the
roots
approaches
• minimal
technology
integraSon
(electrical
lighSng,
music
and
compuSng
faciliSes)
hbp://
• (conSnuously)
improved
exisSng
houses
simondale.net/
– standard
equipment
(computer,
fridge,
electric
house
lights,
stereo,
etc)
but
aim
at
low
power
devices
• hightech
homes
– standard
appliance
with
low
energy
intake
+
high-­‐tech
products
to
reduce
daily
footprint
hbp://www.sustainablehouse.ca
hbp://sustainablehouse.com.au/

9. Dangers
of
Technology
• hard-­‐to-­‐recycle
or
-­‐reuse
materials
• toxic
producSon
processes
and
electronic
waste
(40
million
tons
of
electronic
waste
every
year)
• growing
energy
hunger
(current
home
automaSon
approaches
consume
more
energy
than
they
save)
• conSnuous
maintenance,
updates
and
replacements
• unexplored
issues
related
to
environmental
issues,
health,
social
effects,
informaSon
overload
and
computer
devices
that
make
life
more
complex
and
frustraSng
⇒ quite
the
opposite
to
the
sustainable
homes
defini<on

10. Chances
of
Technology
• new
processor
technology
uses
6-­‐100
Smes
less
energy
• cloud
compuSng
reduces
the
need
for
individual
computers
and
actual
home
appliances
need
to
be
less
smart
• compostable
computer
parts
are
in
the
making
• rouSng
protocols
that
ensure
the
use
of
minimum
energy
routes
• design
for
longer
life
spans
and
dynamic
change
and
provide
open
system
that
can
dynamically
evolve
over
Sme
• the
Cradle-­‐to-­‐Cradle
concept

11. Sustainable
Smart
Homes
• deliver
beber
planning
and
building
results
• automate
and
opSmize
processes
to
use
energy,
water,
etc
more
efficiently
• monitoring
processes
and
make
them
more
transparent
(energy,
(hot)
water
supply,
...)
• support
acSviSes
and
consumpSon
decisions
• reward
sustainable
behavior
• provide
comfort,
security
and
safety
• facilitate
local
and
global
communiSes

12. The
end
...
• ICT
needs
to
face
its
inherent
unsustainability,
but
there
are
great
approaches
already!
• Hardware
and
sonware
and
the
building
itself
will
need
to
be
able
to
evolve
over
Sme
and
to
adapt
to
changing
needs
and
integrate
into
real
cycles.
• We
need
to
go
one
step
further.
We
need
correcSve
rather
than
preservaSve
behavior
to
restore
and
improve
our
resources
rather
than
just
abstain
from
consuming
and
wasSng
them.
• Sustainable
and
correcSve
thinking
and
behavior
have
to
become
core
parts
of
our
lives
to
define
a
sustainable
lifestyle
for
over
7
billion
people
…
and
homes
are
just
a
star<ng
point!

13.
Marco
Blumendorf
hbp://blumendorf.info
m.blumendorf@gmail.com
Thank
You!