SMIT is introducing GROW: a new approach to solar and wind power.

GROW is a hybrid energy delivery device that provides power via the sun and wind, and draws inspiration from ivy growing on a building.

GROW appeals to quality of life concerns (environment, health, energy dependence) by providing a product that adheres to the values of environmental responsibility.

Using a life-cycle analysis (LCA), GROW will utilize recycled and reclaimed materials wherever possible and insure that at the end of GROW’s lifespan, sustainable methods of recycling and reclamation will be carried out to minimize GROW’s environmental and resource footprint.

All iterations of GROW will incorporate an intuitive energy monitoring system allowing both SMIT and end-users to have a one-to-one relationship with their energy output, while enabling the ability to track and fine-tune the performance of GROW’s wind and solar energy production.

GROW’s unique design incorporates a proprietary, patent-pending combination of photovoltaic and piezoelectric technologies in one system that can adapt to different building typologies, programmatic demands, and regional climates.

SMIT has been pursuing GROW conceptually and technically for over two years, and we have made significant progress in that time. Our two parallel lines of development, GROW.1 and GROW.2, represent different stages of technical resolution and conceptual clarity/ideology.

GROW.1 is designed to utilize emerging technology of the photovoltaic and piezo industry. Based around a modular brick system, .1 is composed of a small number of different parts. Each brick has 5 solar leaves which have a very flexible piezo generator at their stem. The manufacturing of these bricks could happen in a roll to roll printing process where PV, conductive ink, and piezo generators can be layered quickly and efficiently. The rolls can then be stamped and formed to create leaves and connection points. Each brick is designed so that at the end of their life cycle the valuable components, i.e. photovoltaic and piezo, can be stamped out and up cycled while the reusable material, i.e plastic, can be up recycled back into the production stream.

GROW.2 utilizes a structural stainless steel mesh system, which is manufactured by Carl Stahl Decorcable in Germany. Their system is designed to enable plants (such as ivy and other crawlers) to grow up the sides of buildings without causing damage to the building’s exteriors, a typical problem of many vertical gardens.

Residential Applications
SMIT’s first product will be a solar-only version of GROW. The modular ‘panel’ will be approximately 4′ X 8′ and will be able to be installed on most residential building types. It will use standard grid-tie hardware that will allow easy integration with the typical building’s existing electrical service provider. More information will be available soon, please contact us for further details.

Commercial & Architectural Applications
GROW is a flexible system that can adapt to different building typologies, programmatic demands, and regional climates. SMIT hopes to collaborate with architects, builders, and real estate developers to produce innovative projects that utilize GROW on architectural and urban scales.

For further information visit: www.s-m-i-t.com.