DC+

Tesla had the idea of using AC power to deliver electricity to the home more than a century ago. Today, all electronics, LED lights, and many appliances run on DC power. With every new TV, clock, computer, etc. a new AC/DC power converter or rectifier (wall wart) is created.

Our antiquated legacy of AC power forces each individual DC product to carry its own small inefficient rectifier that loses energy through heat and contributes to e-waste.

AC power is efficient for delivering power over a large power grid because of its ability to be transformed from high to low voltages without much loss. But, a single efficient home AC to DC converter attached to a home DC grid makes a lot of sense. Coupling this idea with delivering data over the same wires (through established IEEE Power over Ethernet standard), we can go from dumb power to a modern home power grid with DC+.

The dirty little secret that power is still running to your devices and chargers when they are not in use has been exposed. There are plenty of ideas around the elimination of these power “vampires” and finding ways to remind people to turn off power to devices not in use. But, if power and data can stream over the same wire, we can control the power flow and get information from any product or sensor to any other product on the grid or the internet. This means we could remotely, and in many cases automatically, shut off or power down any product, room or house. More importantly we can get actionable insights on ways to reduce wasted resources (electrical power, heat, light, water, etc.) from all the devices on a DC+ home power grid.

Also, as more sustainable DC power sources (solar, wind, fuel cells, etc) are incorporated into our homes we are forced into an inefficient process of converting that DC power to 110 AC, only to convert it back to DC for our electronics. Not only would DC+ eliminate those loses, its data capabilities would help manage these renewable power sources and their battery storage devices.

Reduction Trash Bin

The Reduction trash bin is a concept for replacing the standard 94 gallon municipal/privately supplied trash can with a thought provoking alternative.

With 5% of the world’s population, the US consumes one third of the world’s resources. For a majority of people, the results of this level of consumption are not tangible.

The Reduction trash bin replaces the existing outdoor trash can with an educational tool enabling families to understand the way their level of consumption relates to the world around them. It also provides a way for people to set goals and see real progress in their level of consumption, trash production, and environmental impact.

The Reduction trash bin is truly designed with the user experience in mind and designed to encourage change in behavior. Each time the can is expanded or collapsed, a message is delivered which encourages the user to consider how their level of consumption will impact the world over time.

InCharge Battery Station

The InCharge battery station brings the recharging station out from the garage workbench or from beneath the desk. It provides an elegant, easy to use, self-sorting solution which fits into the daily needs and pace of the user’s life.

Roughly three billion batteries are sold annually in the US alone with the average person disposing of eight household batteries per year. This means up to 2.5 billion batteries are making their way into landfill or incineration in the US alone.

When batteries are discarded into landfill, heavy metals can leach into soil, groundwater and surface water. When they are incinerated, some heavy metals may vaporize and escape into the air.

Rechargeable solutions for common battery sizes (AA, AAA, C, D) are widely available and yet do not make much of a dent into the sales of disposables. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that existing battery solutions do not fit seamlessly into people’s lives, habits, behaviors and needs. Current solutions often become power vampires after the batteries are charged. They make it difficult for users to keep track of which batteries are charged and which aren’t. They either need multiple chargers to fit different sizes or they require users to fiddle with adapters. In short, they do not provide the right size, charged battery at the ready, right when you need it. A solution needs to communicate how easy it is to use and how it integrates into a person’s daily life. The real impact of the device is in the behavioral change that it inspires.