The Energy House
by Kauri Palmer
In use, being used to build a house diorama.
Detailed view of all block modules — appliances are programmed by placing them onto the control module.
Child playing with The Energy House — LED pathways move as she moves blocks.
Visualisation of painting blocks and adding customisation — displayed on a coffee table or on a wall.
Project Description
The Energy House makes the invisible world of energy usage visible. This future-based toy allows children to build a scale replica of their home that connects to a smart home system, displaying real-time energy usage via hidden LED pathways.
Research highlights that energy literacy is vital for a sustainable energy transition, yet parental misconceptions often hinder children's understanding of how energy is used, where it comes from, and when the best time to use it is. This presents an opportunity for an innovative toy that promotes learning through play and involves the whole household.
Parents begin by helping their child to map out their real house and arrange the bases to fit their floor plan. The modular block pieces then magnetically connect to the bases, allowing children to build a replica diorama. The blocks auto-detect their position, and dynamic LED pathways come to life to communicate power usage through colour and movement. Blocks can be combined and programmed to represent specific appliances, such as fridges, dryers, and lights, creating an entire electrical ecosystem.
The blocks draw power from the base via wireless charging coils, which also double as position sensors. The LEDs are concealed by a wood veneer that allows light to shine through when switched on.
Children can then use the kit like a dollhouse, adding furniture or customising the exterior. This personalisation deepens attachment and sustained engagement. Alternatively, parents can display the diorama as an interactive art piece that acts as a constant reminder of conscious energy usage.
Exploded view of internal parts.
Partial working model.
Bio
As a child, Kauri always said she wanted to be an inventor, and now that she's grown up, she's living her dream as the modern-day equivalent — a designer.
She forged an intentional path straight out of high school, studying UX/UI design in her gap year, landing a job, and going on to co-start an online family business while studying Product Design.
She loves all aspects of creative pursuit and fuses an organised, analytical mind with an artist's hand and vision.
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