School pupils get energy monitors

Pupils in Perthshire will be the first in Scotland to test energy monitors which show how much electricity, gas and water their school is using.

The devices have been installed in Kenmore, Longforgan, Stanley and the Royal School of Dunkeld primaries.

The equipment also stores data which the schools will use to understand and reduce their energy consumption.

Ewgeco, which stands for electricity, water, gas and ecological, monitors were invented by a local mother.

Full article here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/8124620.stm

Increased interest around Ewgeco energy monitors has sparked the need to develop a version for the home, after a number of retailers expressed interest in the product.
Originally developed as a real time energy monitor for the business market, Tanya Ewing took her idea to the Innovators Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland. With additional direction from Business Gateway, the first manufacturing run was done at the beginning of 2009.

The first beta versions were tested with the NHS, local authorities and education boards which led to large orders in bulk. However, significant interest from retailers and supermarket chains has pushed Ewgeco into considering the domestic market, with development already underway.
“We launched a beta version at the beginning of the year, because the demand from the business community has been incredible. The NHS, local authorities, schools and a number of retail chains have already shown a lot of interest in the units. As for the consumer-aimed units, we expect demand for them will be huge, considering how quickly the unit will pay for itself in terms of overall utility savings.”