This is for all those that have jumped in the bath, only to jump out twice as quickly due to the bath being a lot hotter than you imagined! And then gone on to drain (aka. waste) the water and refil with a bit more cold, sitting on the side dipping your fingers in waiting for that perfect temperture. If you’ve had such problems, I introduce…
MAX… the rubber duck with a purpose!
MAX the duck uses a thermostat on his tummy, so when he’s bravely swimming about in your running bath the temperture is displayed on his backpack. Using his backpack the user can set their perfect temperture, when this is reached MAX will alert you with a few ‘quacks’. Allowing you to then maintain the desiered temperture, consequently avoiding the wasting of unneeded hot or cold water.
sign smart shower concept uses computer controlled flow valves (as seen in water curtain technology) + gestural and active sensor control (as per various UI concepts) to limit waste water and provide a better shower experience with full user control.
The conclusion i reached was that users really don’t know how much water they use daily, and to quantify it for them would give a benchmark as to what a good day and a bad day was like. Seeing the meter ticking away gives a visual incentive to shut it off. Also Quantus can help detect and stop leaks.
Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth can waste 12 liters of water a minute. Most people turn the water on to moisten the brush after first applying the toothpaste and leave it running until finished. My idea is to eliminate the initial step so that the water only needs to be turned on to rinse the sink after spitting, thereby saving approximately 30-40 liters of water per person per day.
The handle of the brush incorporates a rubberized bladder that is filled with mouthwash. You gently squeeze the handle forcing the mouthwash onto the head wetting it–no water needed! And the mouthwash leaves your breath minty fresh
I saw this challenge a couple of days ago and have not had time to draw up my idea. I plan to do that this weekend (if allowable).
To be honest I have had this idea for a couple of months but have not been able to do anything about. Perhaps this disqaulifies me already? That’ OK because I’m not really in it to get a prize, but I do really appreciate what Core and its members are trying to do.
Anyhow.
My idea: To laser/acid etch a image of the globe on drain stoppers, and related bathroom/ kitchen sink fixtures.
This is a statement to save water, and to be cognizant of the chemicals that we pour down our sinks as well.
Like I said I plan on doing a quick mock up of this over the weekend (sorry I can’t do it now) as I am barely keeping my head above water at my job (no pun intended).
My hats off to cuototo and summo who have submitted simlar concepts. Also thanks to the other submitters as well. Great job and great cause.
I’ve had this idea for a while. Looks like rch beat me to it.
-It uses similar tech to bathroom urinals, so the water is only on when you’re close to it, saving water.
-You’re free to step away and lather and the water will cut off, conserving it. You really only use the water for initial wetting and then rinsing.
-Also, this design will use the pressure of the water and the water running through the connector to recharge itself.
-The user can position the beam exactly where they want it to be.
-The beam probably wouldn’t be visible until the steam runs through it like in the spy movies. But it would be nice if it could leave a light on the floor where it hits in the beginning so that there’s and indication of where the beam is.
I didn’t do any form development, etc…it’s just to get the idea out and to practice with this new digital sketching stuff.
Pee in toilet
Then it gets filtered from the unknown brown substance then goes through osmosis
Take a shower
Again gets filtered and goes to the refrigerator.
And the cycle continues… After 50 cycles the water goes directly to a fast food restaurant to make ice for drinks. Consumerist
Ok, here is another simple one that could make the people think and change their attitude.
The Sponge World could also be great for kids, and I think it shows in a very graphical way that you have the world in your hands (and you are filling it with soap).
Low-tech, helps people save water in a way that also helps them budget their time, and is retrofittable into a fairly large number of existing showers.
Can be used in co-operation with a water-saving head to save even more water.
Well this is my first time ever for contributing sumthing on this site
my idea is very simple
as you may know that most of the waste water is come from our lovely shower session we waste over 50% of water during shower not for the purpose of cleaning ourself but for just “let it go”
so “tube” the water saving water head can help us
by changing the way people use the shower set from typical water valve and lever type that we have a hard time closing it(cos we,human. are too lazy blah blah blah) to become a “button” that you’ll have to push and hold it.
After you release the button the water will automatically shutdown itself rather than just let it flow on and on and on…
The dripklik faucet helps monitor water usage by incorperating a visual and auditory mechanism. The cup which snaps onto the faucet, encourages extra thought before use, and is perfect for pre-measuring a mouth rinse when brushing.
This design takes the responsibility away from the user. Since many of us might not be as eco-minded on a rough Monday morning. A sensor in the shelves detects when containers of shampoo and conditioner and a bar of soap are present. (Whatever is on the shelves when the shower is turned on is what will trigger the sensor). Then, when the user grabs any of the items on the shelves, the sensor is tripped and the water shuts off until said item is replaced.
This can also function as a fun prank for unsuspecting house guests.
concept: assigning different flows of water for different purposes. a very thin stream for shaving, a light, rain-like setting for body washing/rinsing and a high pressure stream for rinsing hair.
The morning after I heard about the competition I was thinking about it during my shower (I’m convinced that the best ideas start there). The most promising idea I came up with was “Pebbles”… a way that you could enjoy a nice long bath without using a lot of water. Like the Crow in Aesops famous fable “The Crow and the Pitcher”, the bather could drop these thermoplastic rubber pebbles into the bath to displace the water in addition to their own weight. The pebbles would also hold the heat of the water to keep the bath warmer for a longer period of time. For those who haven’t heard the fable, here it is below:
Time log: 30min modeling tub and mapping pebbles, 5min to render/find fable text, 20min to modify layout from another pres and trim image.
A CROW, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. At last, at last, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.
Æsop. (Sixth century B.C.) Fables. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
By pushing down the tap, you can set the amount of water you need for washing hands or weting your toothbrush or things like that…
The tap is equipped with an inside spring that lift the tap back to the top.
You can push it down according to the measure on the tap. while the stream will fade when going up.