The development of the standard kitchen of the American home can be traced back to as early as the 1930s. Dramatic improvements in a wide range of technologies and materials led to innovations in the design of appliances, surface materials and building practices all of which most of us now take for granted as standard and necessary. And although improvements have continued to be made to this day, the kitchen of the American home remains essentially unchanged since its origin. This is certainly the case when energy and water consumption are considered. An active kitchen uses a considerable amount of energy and water, two resources that are becoming increasingly scarce. In 2010, it has become increasing clear and a matter of fact, really, that energy and water are not limitless resources (at least not in the near distant future) and that the American home, and the American kitchen in particular, have to undergo a fundamental change regarding the consumption of these two precious, can’t-live-without resources.
ENERGY
The future for the American home (of which the kitchen is a large energy user) is that it will become so efficient that, at the very least, it will produce as much energy as it uses. Known either as a Net-Zero Energy Home or a Zero-Net Energy Home (ZNEH), it will bring together, for the first time, a number of new and exciting technologies under one roof. Tied to a smarter energy grid through an advanced metering technology, a ZNEH will integrate features such as integrated photovoltaic solar panels and small energy producing wind turbines linked to underground storage batteries, geothermal heat pumps and super efficient water heaters. Tied to remarkably energy efficient appliances, the ZNEH will be able to use no more energy than it produces, and in the best possible scenario, the ZNEH will actually produce a surplus of energy.
WATER
No doubt our most precious resource, water use in the traditional American kitchen is anything but efficient. Fresh water that becomes dirty goes down the drain and enters either a sewer or septic tank. Water efficiency can be dramatically improved through the use of low faucet aerators, leak sensors, low water use (known as high efficiency, or HE) dishwashers and washing machines, and water storage systems. Furthermore, instead of going down the drain, used water can be sent through a filtration system and be reused for other purposes such as in flushing toilets.
LINKS
net zero energy home: www.genewscenter.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=7271...
clean water: www.irc.nl
energy and the environment: www.extension.umn
net zero energy home: www.netzeroenergyhome.ca
smart metering: www.earth2tech.com
solar power: www.sunpluggers.com
geothermal: www.geothermal.marin.org
turbines: www.alternative-energy-news.com
IMAGINING THE KITCHEN OF THE FUTURE
As part of an energy efficient home beyond anything we can presently imagine, the kitchen of the future is a model of efficiency. A very smart metering panel, highly sensitive to the needs of the kitchen and the current state of the energy grid manages the flow of electricity in the most efficient manner. Nothing is lost. Every appliance is extremely sensitive to the exact amount of energy required to carry out its function and responds perfectly to every situation. The kitchen is linked to energy producing devices located within the house itself and even when use is heavy, the home of the future actually produces a surplus of energy that is stored in small, compact but highly efficient batteries for later use. And not a drop of water is wasted in the kitchen of the future. Continuously recycled, water is never taken for granted or used indiscriminately. Subterranean cisterns tap into geothermal sources to heat water for cooking and heating. Super efficient filtration tanks continuously turn out renewed water. Now imagine a greenhouse associated with the kitchen where vegetables, fruits and herbs grow year round and scraps from their use are composted to create the soil for future use. The kitchen of the future is a model of efficiency, versatility and functionality. Nothing is wasted and everything is gained.
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