Remember the big hoopla about the Smart Home built and put on display in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry? It made every “Green” tagline in the blog-o-sphere and generally made you feel like a wasteful schmuck. Its floors and walls were made from recycled materials and its gadgets were all built to make life easier, plus something about smaller footprints. The way the media presented it you’d think the only byproduct it produces is sunshine and baby kittens — until now.
Because sitting out in the green garage of recycling and fantasy bicycle storage lives this planter. I call it the “day after the cameras and media left planter.” I was there recently and it got me thinking about the real future of a place like this. You know, in the outside world. The simple fact of the matter is no one actually lives in the Smart Home. It’s just a concept, a literal museum exhibit. The house is packed full with ideas and style, but is no one’s home.
There’s no messy kids room with crayon on the wall. The dog hasn’t gnawed the window sills to nothing because it smells like recycled chew toy. The electric pump that collects rainwater in giant underground tanks for you to drink (which happens to be juuuust out of warranty) hasn’t broken yet and the entire garage doesn’t smell like ass because the composting unit isn’t actually turned on. In short, the house itself is a great start but it’s only half the equation.
You are the real power behind a home, smart or otherwise. How you support and maintain that home or the one you’re currently in is just as important as what it’s made from. Don’t believe me? Ask this planter in the smart garage.
Smart-Home [Museum of Science and Industry]