Imagine a world where power consumption and energy efficiency were less of a personal burden and more of a community effort. The "Switch!" design research group at the Swedish Interactive Institute have been doing just that with "Symbiots"; a series of photographic scenarios that give a glimpse into a world where people are lured away from private and habitual energy comsumption and encouraged to engage with their local surroundings and neighbours.

The "Street Cinema", pictured above, could well be a vision for a non-too distant future where watching TV from the comfort of your own home becomes an eco faux-pas or simply too expensive—the occupied streets also perhaps discouraging any unneccessary car use. The "Public Spotlight", in contrast, imagines a local environment that rewards low individual energy use with enviable privileges—street lamps, in this case, lighting the balconies of the local eco-warrior.