The ZEF table looks like any other sleek kitchen table, with the acception of technology that can cut energy costs by up to 60%.
Beneath the oak table are a series of phase-changing materials (PCMs) placed between the wood and a anodized aluminum bottom. The materials soften when the room reaches around 71 degrees, absorbing the excess heat, then hardens once the temperature dips back below 71 degrees, releasing the trapped heat with the help of the aluminum and causing a noticeable change in the room’s temperature.
According to the inventors, the table has the potential to reduce heating needs by as much as 60% and cooling demands by as much as 30%, which could save a lot of money as well as energy.
