House to Future project (Marche region, Italy)

The project concerns the development and implementation of new technologies on energy efficiency in housing applications (Building Automation).

The action, headed by Tecnomarche – Science and Technology Park of Marche Region, consists of the realisation of an integrated pilot project for the activation of 6 business innovative research projects to be implemented in 6 SMEs with the involvement of 6 young researchers.
The specific areas of Building Automation of this initiative are:

•    Home Automation, also known by the term "Domotics"
•    Management and control of installations, with particular reference to those of energy-saving, often highly integrated areas, perhaps at the level of single living/work space with the installation of Home Automation

The Integrated Project presented by Tecnomarche is designed primarily to promote industrial research and development on pre-competitive areas/domains of knowledge relating to the development of eco-innovative technologies which are important and shared by partners, not only for the competitive positioning of each company, but also to characterize the local production system in terms of the acquisition (leaders) of knowledge and highly innovative technologies and the improvement of a culture among all actors in the sector (policy makers, technology suppliers and end users) of the Piceno territory.

The initiative is characterized by giving close attention to the role of young researchers/technologists who have been recognized as having a strategic role by partner companies because:
•    young researchers represent the real carriers of knowledge transfer of the promoting organization;
•    they have increasing involvement in the activities of prototyping, have the chance to qualify the quality of human resources on which their businesses can support the implementation of further development of innovations produced by the project.

The SME partners identified by the PST Marche operate in the following areas:
•    technology and systems for renewable energy production, energy saving;
•    significant production systems;
•    electrical wiring systems;
•    design

Namely they are:
ALKON Srl: Design in interiors. FAAM Spa: Hydrogen fuel cell batteries. Lince Energy Srl: Design, development solutions for emergency and security lighting for high-tech applications. Proietti Planet Srl: Design, development and commercialization of high technology solutions for detection, acquisition of information and interpretation of mapping documents. ReStart Scarl: Sustainable redevelopment of areas and real estate. Western CO snc: Design, development of products for photovoltaic systems.

The project was funded under ESF-ROP Marche Region 2006 - Ob 3 - Priority D - Measure 4, with a budget of € 600.00 a month for each graduate researcher, for a total of € 7200.00 to cover the cost of signing a contract of work with the graduates / researchers and was foreseen to last 12 months.

Results:
•    Development of original concepts with particular attention to the integration of wireless applications in the control of bio-climate environments with active control systems for energy recovery
•    Realization of a Fuel cell system for use in the home environment integrated with other renewable sources (mainly photovoltaic)
•    Design of an innovative application of existing lighting technologies developed through the adoption and implementation of wireless communication technologies.
•    Design and realisation of a prototyping platform for innovative Building Automation which can detect events and transmit the information resulting from the data processing systems
•    Realization of a prototype of a “WELLNESS CONTROL PANEL”
•    Realization of a prototype of a monitoring system which through the use of wireless technologies can increase the efficiency of the current system by improving the quality of life, reducing operating costs through the optimization of consumption and implementing technologies for energy savings