The company has been selling the EnergyHub dashboard (now known as Home Base), a touchscreen dashboard that combines temperature control and home-energy management, since 2009. The device connects to power strips, sockets, thermostats, and smart meters when available to provide users information about and control over their energy use. Now, with the help of Smart Design, EnergyHub has designed an updated Home Base dashboard that it thinks will appeal to a broader set of users. But the question remains: Will people want to pay $200 (the approximate cost) for this kind of device if they already own an iPad, laptop, and smart phone?
Smart Design is a multi-disciplinary design consultancy established in 1980 by Davin Stowell, Tom Dair, Tamara Thomsen, Dan Formosa, and Tucker Viemeister. The firm employs 120+ people in its three locations - New York, San Francisco and Barcelona (Spain). Their approach to solving design challenges integrates product, interaction, brand communication, and strategic services.
Smart Design: Simply Home-Energy Device