At IFA Berlin 2023, the 99-year-old tradeshow that began with radio and now navigates the digital frontier, the “House of Smart Living” will give visitors a glimpse of how technology will help to build a sustainable future. The House will be a part of the tradeshow’s new space, the Sustainability Village.
IFA 2023 will take place September 1-5 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, Germany. Press Days are August 30-31.
The Collaboration That Made the House of Smart Living Happen
The House of Smart Living is a joint production by Germany’s three electrical and information technology associations: VDE, ZVEH and ZVEI. It is highly experiential, showcasing a broad range of building technologies, smart applications, and other innovative features that improve the energy efficiency, security, and comfort of future buildings.
Carine Chardon, Director Consumer at ZVEI, said, “The three German trade associations are thrilled to be part of the IFA Sustainability Village and to present their House of Smart Living. It showcases technologies for energy efficiency, use of renewable energies and innovative climate control, all of which have a significant impact for a sustainable society. We are looking forward to explaining today’s state of the art smart living technologies to the IFA visitors.”
The Highlights, Room by Room
The House of Smart Living mirrors a family home, featuring seven rooms with intelligent and future-ready technologies that will make living smarter. A key aspect of the display is energy efficiency. For example, in the House of Smart Living, there will be smart networked energy meters linked to an energy management system that automatically schedules tasks such as running the dishwasher when electricity is generated by connected solar panels or when it is at its cheapest.
Alternative energy sources and their technological capabilities will also be featured. Renewable and sustainable energy sources like heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, and high-capacity energy storage show how homes can be powered and kept warm (or cool) while being energy self-sufficient.
The bathroom contains fittings that work without touch, remember the water temperature preferred by the person using the shower, and heat water only when it is really needed.
The bedroom shows how smart technologies can make homes safer and help senior citizens or people with disabilities or a chronic illness live comfortably at home. For example, the floor is equipped with a fall detection device. Another system detects a person’s breathing and calls for help in case of an emergency. Self-learning and speech-controlled AI systems, meanwhile, make it easier for people to take care of themselves.
The smart kitchen in the House of Smart Living features cabinets that can be raised and lowered. Cooks, meanwhile, can look forward to an AI assistant that helps them with meal preparations. And, with the use of smart technologies, the living room is transformed into a multimedia experience. The smart office has clever functional furniture and lights that are optimized to provide the best possible work environment.
Any House Can Be One of Smart Living
The House of Smart Living demonstrates that any home can become it. Thanks to secure Bluetooth connections, systems like this can also be retrofitted to existing switch boxes without the need to lay down new cables through walls and ceilings. Whether it’s power, water, heat, or security, the House of Smart Living shows that sustainable homes can be built today.
