Barratt Homes has unveiled eHome2, a home designed with state-of-the-art technologies. eHome2 is designed to reduce energy consumption while equipping us to deal with the increasingly drastic climates brought about by global warming.
Heat-emitting skirting boards
As well as being unattractive, radiators waste valuable wall space, limiting where you can place furniture. To avoid these issues, homes of the future could be equipped with heat-emitting skirting boards. These energy-efficient alternatives to radiators are compatible with any floor finish and boiler or heat pump and can heat any room within minutes.
Smart water metering
“We need to reduce our water consumption by up to 40% to reach the government’s per capita consumption targets. As well as accurately monitoring real-time water consumption to the point of being able to detect leaks and shut off water supply, smart water metering technology educates consumers and provides personalised examples of ways to reduce consumption.”
Smart home controls
“Our future homes could be optimised by smart technology which acts as the ‘brain of the home’, automating every technology within the home - including heating, TVs, lighting, audio equipment and household appliances. This sort of technology can even reduce energy wastage by detecting, for example, when lights or heating has been accidentally left on.”
Smart blinds
“Automatic blinds could mean our homes are able to passively heat and cool themselves using energy from the sun. In the future, homes may be designed around systems which automatically track the trajectory of the sun and draw blinds to cool homes in hot weather and lift blinds before bringing on the heat source in winter.”
Sales and marketing director at Barratt Homes, Steve Mariner, explains that eHome2 is at the cutting edge of technology:
“eHome2 brings together some of the most exciting technology the construction industry has to offer. While at the moment, many of these features are in their infancy, we hope in the future, these technologies could become standard features across all new homes. As well as contributing to a sustainable future, these technologies can also save homeowners money. While a typical Victorian home costs £315 to run each month, eHome2 is equipped with a wealth of technology which brings monthly bills down to just £85.”