Our homes need to get smarter and less wasteful if we really want to address big problems in our world like climate change.
Fortunately, some of the smartest minds on the planet are coming up with ingenious ways to make that happen.
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Nest: the self-learning thermostat
Self-programmable thermostat Nest can lower your heating and cooling bills by 20 percent. It does this by learning your preferences and automatically adjusting the temperature.
You treat it like a normal thermostat, turning it up when you're cold and turning it down when you're hot. It learns your temperature setting patterns, can sense the weather, and will automatically change the temperature when you're out of the house.
It was designed by Tony Fadell, who worked on some of Apple's most popular products, like the iPod and iPhone.
RavenBrick: A smart window that heats and cools your house
Eyeglasses have lenses that darken and lighten according to the light. Now, windows can do that, too.
The RavenWindow is a smart window for homes and office buildings that reflects the sun's heat. When it's hot, it darkens and blocks heat. When it's cool, it lightens and lets the sun in. It saves up to 30 percent on bills, without using any electricity itself.
Toto: smart toilets that eliminate toilet paper
To most people, going green in the bathroom typically means a toilet that uses less water. But to Toto, it means a toilet that gets rid of toilet paper.
The Toto Washlet is a toilet and bidet in one. By cleansing you with water, it reduces the need for toilet paper.
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