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TechKnowSaturday 5:30pm ET/2:30pm PT

Slumber party for science!

Contributor Cara Santa Maria shares her favorite shots from a night in the Honda Smart Home.

May 16, 2014 1:27PM ET
by Cara Santa Maria @carasantamaria

As a contributor to "TechKnow" on Al Jazeera America, I read about lots of cool science and technology stories every day. But when the idea to spend the night in Honda's high-efficiency "Smart Home" came across my desk, I jumped at the chance. Phil Torres did too, so we fought over who got the biggest bedroom—but not before we learned about all the cool features this house-from-the-future has to offer.

Living room
From the moment I stepped foot in the Honda Smart Home, I felt at home (if only my apartment were this nice!).
Inside the Honda Smart Home
One of the first things I noticed was the stunning architectural detail, not to mention the tasteful modern interior design. I couldn't help but think that this was not a energy-efficient pod of a house. How could something this beautiful also be good for the environment?
Tablet control for Honda Smart Home.
It immediately became apparent that this is more than just a magazine-worthy art piece. It is packed with clever, environmentally-friendly features. And I could control them all with the touch of a button. Each room was equipped with a tablet, and I could change the temperature, lighting design, open or close the windows and shades, turn on the TV, and even measure my energy use and production.
Car in the garage
Oh, I could even charge the Honda Fit! (If you ask me, all houses should come with electric cars.)
Cara in the car
Speaking of the Honda Fit, here I am driving it around the UC Davis campus, LIKE A BOSS.
Induction cooktop
One place where Phil and I spent a lot of time was the kitchen. It was decked out with energy efficient appliances and features, from the induction cooktop to the energy star rated refrigerator and stove.
Making lasagna
Here, Phil and I area attempting to bake a lasagna after a long day.
Lasagna!
The lasagna was a success...
Phil tries to work the oven
...even if Phil couldn't figure out how to use the oven at first.
Celebratory drink
And a celebratory drink! It actually turns out that during the day, the solar panels on the roof actually produce more energy than the entire house consumes on a regular basis. That is smart design.
Passive design
Hot water for showers, laundry, and dishes; electricity for the stove, refrigerator, television, and electric vehicle; floor to ceiling mood and task lighting--all of these things use energy. So how can a solar array on the roof of this home meet all of its needs? It all comes down to how the house was built. It's something called "passive design." The doors and windows were well planned to take in light and heat when it's needed, but not when it's not.
Cara and Jonathan Wooley
I had a chance to speak with Jonathan Wooley, the designer of the home's ingenious heating and cooling system. It uses a geothermal system to heat and cool the house throughout the year. Very little energy is wasted, and the natural heating power of the earth is harnessed by this system.
Couch time
At the end of the day, don't we all just want to be able to kick our feet up and take in a good book? The Honda Smart Home proves that you don't have to give up your creature comforts to live a greener lifestyle.

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