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Five inventions you could see in the Smart E-Home of the future

From electric vehicles to how we do our washing, innovations in housing and in technology are set to transform the way we live in just a few short years.

We asked a panel of experts to consider the innovations we might find in our Smart E-Homes – smart homes that are energy efficient and good for the environment – using technology either already in production or possible within 10 years. From kettles in kitchens to wind powering whole streets, here’s how they think our homes will be better for the planet in 2030 – and how the small steps we are taking now, such as requesting a smart meter, will pave the way for the future Smart E-Home.

1) Smart cushions and furniture which change colour, fabric and texture using augmented reality

Wall hanging screens already exist as do reconfigurable materials. So, if you get bored of your brown leather sofa, by 2030 you could talk to your in-home AI and change it to a plush red velvet one, with no waste.

Furniture will be more sustainable and last a lot longer, because no one will need to get rid of their old sofas to replace them with new ones. Instead we’ll simply reconfigure what we have to meet our needs as they change. Bonus points for couples: bed sheets could even be different temperatures according to bed partners’ individual preferences.

smart e-home of the future kitchen garden

2) Hydroponic indoor gardens

In 2030, we might have living kitchens to fuel us with fresh food. Featuring a hydroponic garden, with efficient use of light, we'll have fresh vegetables to harvest in our own kitchens, and they'd only take the space of a family fridge.

3) Modular homes that allow you to add and subtract space

New technology could mean we can use our homes more flexibly. Modular housing will mean people might be able to literally build their own homes: empty nesters can potentially get rid of rooms they no longer need to make their homes more efficient, new homeowners could start small and expand out as their families grow. These smart e-homes will use resources in sensible ways by reusing water for example, reducing waste, improving insulation and making the most of the technology we have to hand.

4) Electric vehicles will be a common sight

In 2030, everyone could have their own electric vehicle and charging station. As our homes become more efficient at storing, using and sharing energy, it may even be possible for us to share the surplus in our homes with those who live near us.

5) Smart bathrooms will make our homes water self-sufficient

Even waste shower water and toilet waste could be transformed into a valuable source of energy for our homes. Waste water will be captured, stored and repurposed for heating or re-filtered to make our homes water self-sufficient. Smart toilets could use the energy from our waste, and accurately calculate exactly how much water is needed to dispose of it.

And the good news is that we're already taking the small steps, including requesting a smart meter from our energy supplier, which will pave the way to this Smart E-Home of the future. They’re the first step to being in control of our homes, of saving money by using energy more efficiently, and they’re a really easy way we can all work to combat climate change to make our current and future world a cleaner and greener place for our families and their children to live.

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Want to know more?

To find out what our panel of experts are saying about the potential for smart meters to transform our homes download a copy of the The Smart E-home of the Future Report.

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