For six years, three houses in Campbell Creek, Tennessee were occupied by robots who were programmed to use the utilities of the house as a way to study energy efficiency.
For six years, three houses in Campbell Creek, Tennessee were occupied by automated appliances that were programmed to use the utilities of the house as a way to study energy efficiency.
Now these so called ‘robo’ homes are on the market, and the results of the study by the Tennessee Valley Authority have been used to create more energy efficient building codes.
The market for energy efficient homes has grown since the study started in 2009.
Developer Michael Rhodes who worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority on the project is quoted as saying: “Customers have become more and more aware of all the energy efficiency features available and want them in their homes.”
All three houses operated in unison with appliances and systems that would turn on and off or open and close throughout the day, to simulate the energy consumption of a real family, along with Human Body Emulation Systems that gave off heat and moisture like humans do.
One of the houses was constructed with traditional materials at the time, the second received upgraded retrofit products like a sealed attic, while the third was built with energy efficient solutions including better insulation in thicker walls and a solar system. The study showed the second house was 37 percent more efficient and the third used 55 percent less energy than the traditional house.
