AWARE is a design oriented research project that aims to increase people's awareness of how energy is being used in everyday life, especially in our home environment. The objectives are to develop strategies and artefacts that make people attentive of their energy use, as well as offer them control and possibilities of making their energy use more efficient.
The Aware project consists of six objects: a clock, light switch, chandelier, radiator handle and two lamp designs. The Laundry Lamp and Energy Aware Clock are currently on show as part of an exhibition called Visual Voltage at the House of Sweden in Washington.
The Aware Laundry Lamp (above) aims to encourage people to hang-dry their clothes as opposed to using a tumble dryer, one of the greatest consumers of energy in the home. Clothing hung on the frame diffuses the light and acts as a lamp shade.
The Aware Chandelier (above) explores the aesthetic qualities of compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The Energy Aware Clock displays household energy consumption in real-time and allows comparisons with the previous day’s consumption to be made through overlaid graphic visualisations. It also functions as an ordinary clock.
The Aware Puzzle Switch (above) is a household light switch that aims to encourage people to turn off lights by exploiting our “built-in desire for order”. The puzzle only appears complete when in the off position.
The Aware Handle is a radiator handle with teeth in the surface, designed to be more comfortable to use when decreasing temperature than increasing.The Share Aware Lights (top image) are a series of portable, radio-controlled lights which divide a fixed amount of energy between them. As one light is made brighter the other lights in the series dim to compensate.
