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Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry - Smart Home: Green + Wired Exhibit

The Museum of Science and Industry exhibit Smart Home: Green + Wired, Powered by ComEd and Warmed by Peoples Gas, allows guests to tour a real, functioning three-story, modular and sustainable “green” home-built right in the Museum’s backyard-that also highlights unique eco-friendly technologies for the 21st century. This exhibit is part of the Museum’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2008, and it marks the first time that a museum has built a fully functioning exhibit home of this kind on its grounds.

The exhibit home - designed by Michelle Kaufmann Designs™ and built by All American Homes™ - is open May 8 through January 4, 2009. Celebrating exciting new directions in sustainable living and spectacular, environmentally-friendly technology, Smart Home: Green + Wired will offer guests guided tours of the 2,500 square-foot home and grounds, located in a park on the east side of the Museum. Within the home, guests are able to view the latest innovations in reusable resources; smart energy consumption; eco-friendly landscaping; and clean, healthy-living environments in a contemporary setting.

One of the high performance, energy efficient building systems being used is Warmboard Radiant Subfloor. Warmboard radiant floor heating is utilized as the heat source on the first and second floors of the building because of its contributions to both energy efficiency and healthy, clean Indoor Air Quality. Germs, dust, pollen and mold spores generally associated with forced air systems do not apply to Warmboard radiant heat. Additionally, the high conductivity of the Warmboard radiant panel leads to lower water temperatures, creating greater efficiency that ultimately benefits the environment.

“Smart” technologies are incorporated throughout the home, including a full-home automation system that allows homeowners to control heat, window coverings, lighting, security sensors and cameras. A touch screen will track electricity and water consumption in the home on a real-time basis. The technologies will demonstrate how a home can inspire lifestyle choices and be equipped to save resources while residents are away, as well as keep a home and its occupants protected.

Smart Home: Green + Wired is a must-see exhibit for anyone who wants their home, and life, to be smarter, more efficient and more in tune with the environment than it is today.