With the rise in energy costs and increasing focus on sustainability, finding ways to reduce energy waste is more important than ever. Household appliances, especially those that generate heat, often release energy that is not captured or reused. By recovering this waste heat, we can make homes more energy-efficient, reduce overall consumption, and contribute to global energy sustainability goals. This challenge is timely as it addresses both environmental concerns and the rising demand for energy-saving solutions in homes.
Success would be the creation of a small, functional prototype that can capture waste heat from appliances and convert it into usable energy. This energy could either be stored as electricity or redirected as heat to other parts of the home, like water heaters or heating systems. The device should be easy to install and operate in a typical household setting. A successful solution would offer tangible benefits in terms of energy savings and environmental impact, while being cost-effective and user-friendly.
There are existing technologies that recover waste heat in industrial settings, but scaling these down to a household level presents new challenges. Potential directions could include thermoelectric generators, heat exchangers, or phase-change materials that store and redistribute heat. Collaborating with experts in energy conversion, thermal dynamics, and smart home technology could help refine and adapt these concepts to everyday home appliances.
Teams can leverage existing research on thermoelectric materials, energy storage systems, and smart home integration to inform their design process. The challenge will require balancing efficiency, cost, and user experience in a real-world application.
After the hackathon, successful teams can be paired with mentors who will be able to guide them further in their development and help them take the next steps forward.