There has been a great deal of attention paid to the topic of green product design as of late. But what exactly constitutes effective green product design? Take a look at these three excellent examples.
The Nest Learning Thermostat
Developed by Nest, a home automation company recently acquired by Google, the learning thermostat is potentially the most intelligent accessory you can add to your home. The thermostat boasts sophisticated algorithms that are specifically designed to schedule and automate your temperature, taking into consideration your unique preferences and efficiency. What, exactly, makes this product such an excellent example of green product design? Its ability to adapt to user preferences.
A recent software update has made this learning thermostat even more adept at adjusting home temperature according to your preferences in order to maximize efficiency. “The main improvements in our algorithm is the way it compiles and analyzes additional information from the home,” explains Maxime Veron, the head of product marketing at Nest. “We are learning the schedule better based on understanding occupancy better. This enables the thermostat to save more energy. Every interaction is treated as a way for the user to communicate with the device about his or her preferences for a particular temperature at a particular time and day of the week. This provides a more holistic view of user preference than was considered previously.” The learning capabilities of this device are truly impressive. For example, it can discern when your kids have gone back to school in the fall after summer vacation, and adjust the temperature accordingly to a vacant home.
Replenish
Did you know that the vast majority of cleaning products are actually just water? That means that it doesn’t really make much sense to sell something that is 95 percent water in a disposal plastic bottle — it generates a substantial amount of unnecessary waste. Think of it this way: 35 billion plastic bottles are thrown away each and every year in the US, and the country wastes billions of dollars of energy shipping these bottles to stores. That is where Replenish comes into play. The product boasts a refill system that allows consumers to easily mix concentrated liquids into reusable plastic bottles. Not only does this eliminate waste, it saves consumers money.
Water Cones
Although water covers a staggering 70 percent of the world’s surface, over 97 percent of this water is salt water, meaning that it isn’t available for drinking. Fresh water is in short supply, and global climate change and increased demand are further straining already strained resources. One potential solution is to convert salt water into fresh water, but this can unfortunately be incredibly costly and time consuming. That’s where water cones come into play. These solar water distillers allow users to convert salt water to clean, fresh drinking water. It can desalinate up to 1.5 liters of water per day, which is enough for a child. Furthermore, the process is efficient and simple. That’s what makes the green product so great. It directly responds to a serious problem, providing a solution that is easy, simple, and cost-effective.
Pivot International is a product design, development, and manufacturing firm with extensive experience in the medtech industry. If you are interested in engineering a new product or updating an existing product, contact us at 1-877-206-5001 or request your free consultation today.
