By Adrian Justins
From water recycling to solar tracking, these innovations combine smart design with lower environmental impact — helping households save energy, reduce waste and cut carbon without compromising comfort.
Hydraloop H300 water recycler, from £5,729
Showers may use less water than baths, but it still ends up going to waste. The Hydraloop H300 aims to change that by recycling water from showers, as well as washing machines and dishwashers, for non-drinking uses. Reused water can cut household consumption by as much as 45 per cent, according to the company. Housed in a tank (pictured below, behind the car bonnet) and controlled via an app, the system uses a combination of six filtration-free, chemical-free processes — including UV disinfection and an aerobic bioreactor — to clean the water for reuse in toilets, gardens and laundry. The treated water meets multiple international safety standards.
SmartFlower solar panels, from £33,825
Most solar panels are fixed, rectangular and roof mounted. SmartFlower breaks the mould. Designed for ground installation, the 5-metre-high structure has petal-like panels that form a flower shape. Using an astronomical tracking system, the panels rotate throughout the day to follow the sun and have an output that is 40 per cent more than that of fixed panels. In high winds, the device automatically folds itself away. It’s also self-cleaning and uses built-in cooling to minimise heat loss. An app tracks energy production, and an optional battery allows for on-site electricity storage.
Run radiator, from £1,753
Thinking of replacing your boiler with a heat pump? Check your radiators first. Heat pumps operate at lower flow temperatures — typically between 30C and 55C — compared with the 70C or so of gas and oil boilers. To work efficiently, heat pumps need to feed radiators that either have a larger surface area than many pre-existing ones or have a built-in fan to push the warm air out. One such model is the Run radiator, available from The Radiator Centre. It comes in more than 60 finishes and features smart home technology, with heating and cooling options, selected using a touch-sensitive LCD display or via an app.
Boldr Klima smart air conditioning controller, £113
Much like a smart thermostat that controls heating, Klima does the opposite during the hotter months, keeping the house cool by automatically optimising the climate. Compatible with all aircon units that use a remote control with a display, Klima is made from recycled materials and monitors real-time energy consumption, sets room-by-room schedules and tracks estimated bills via an app. With geo-sensing, Klima can automatically switch off the aircon when the last person (with the app installed) leaves home and can prepare the home’s climate for the first person’s arrival. One thermostat is required for each air conditioning unit.
