In the Press: The Engineer

Posted on August 2, 2011 by ewgeco

Real-time energy monitor could cut UK household bills

UK households could significantly cut their energy bills by using a real-time energy monitor, a new study suggests.

A team from Edinburgh Napier University assessed the performance of 65 housing association homes, which were pre-fitted with a Ewgeco real-time energy monitor.

According to a statement, the results of the six-month trial showed that those that used the device consumed up to 20 per cent less gas than other households in the study.

‘Our findings demonstrate that in-house utility displays can offer a tangible means of energy reduction by enabling behavioural change,’ said study author John Currie, director of the Scottish Energy Centre at Edinburgh Napier University.

The Ewgeco monitor’s traffic-light display of green, amber and red reportedly highlights real-time low, medium or high energy usage.

It is said to work with ordinary utility meters to provide households with instantaneous information on their gas, energy and water consumption.

Forty-three of the homes in the trial, which was funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board, had the Ewgeco monitor clearly on display, while it was hidden in the remainder of the properties.

Researchers found that households that could see and use the energy-saving device consumed up to 20 per cent less gas and seven per cent less electricity compared with the properties with a hidden monitor.

In interviews, around 94 per cent of tenants also said that the device made them more aware of the energy they were using, while 73 per cent said it made them use less energy.

The study was the first of its kind in the UK involving a real-time energy monitor to track and monitor domestic gas and electricity consumption.

‘With the introduction of smart metering technologies in all homes in the UK by 2020, it is imperative that such devices be linked with easy-to-understand interactive user displays if national energy reduction targets are to be realised and not just seen as a means of providing utility suppliers with demand information,’ said Currie.

Link to Article: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/energy-and-environment/news/real-time-energy-monitor-could-cut-uk-household-bills/1009434.article#ixzz1UWWXhSVr

STV: Real-time energy monitor could ‘could cut gas bills by 20%’

Posted on August 2, 2011 by ewgeco

Edinburgh Napier University team tracked amount of power used in six-month trial.

Homeowners could significantly slash their bills with a device that displays up-to-the-minute energy consumption, a new study suggests.

A team from Edinburgh Napier University tracked the amount of power used in 65 housing association homes that had been fitted with an Ewgeco real-time energy monitor.

The results of the six-month trial showed homes fitted with the Scottish firm’s device used up to 20% less gas than other households in the study.

This news comes as official figures published yesterday showed that skyrocketing bills forced 1m more UK households into fuel poverty in the space of a year.”Our findings demonstrate that in-house utility displays can offer a tangible means of energy reduction by enabling behavioural change,” said study author John Currie, Director of the Scottish Energy Centre at Edinburgh Napier University.

The monitor’s simple traffic light display uses green, amber and red colours to highlight low, medium or high energy usage.

It works with ordinary utility meters to give instantaneous information on their gas, energy and water consumption.

43 homes in the trial, funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board, had the Ewgeco monitor clearly on display, while it was hidden in the other homes.

Researchers found that households that could see and use the energy-saving device consumed up to 20% less gas and 7% less electricity compared to those with a hidden monitor.

In interviews, around 94% of tenants said the device made them more aware of the energy they were using, while 73% felt it made them use less energy.

One study participant, a single mum with two children of primary school age, found it difficult to understand her bills and keep track of her spending until she discovered the Ewgeco’s daily target alarm app.

“When I get back from work and the kids arrive back from school everything gets turned on and sometimes left on unattended for hours,” she said. “The alarm means we can now budget our energy use to how much I can actually afford every day.”

The study was the first of its kind in the UK.

Mr Currie said: “With the introduction of smart metering technologies in all homes in the UK by 2020, it is imperative that such devices be linked with easy-to-understand interactive user-displays if national energy reduction targets are to be realised and not just seen as a means of providing utility suppliers with demand information.”

The real-time energy monitor was devised by Perth entrepreneur Tanya Ewing, who was named British Female Inventor of the Year in 2008.

The former housewife, who was inspired to come up with the invention after receiving a particularly high gas bill, said: “Having won multiple awards for what originally was a good idea, it is very rewarding to read this report and see the proof that Ewgeco does what it’s meant to do – save money and energy in an intuitive way without changing your lifestyle.”

Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, Perthshire Housing Association and Glen Housing participated in the trial.

“This study indicates that the Ewgeco monitors have been helping our tenants to become more aware of their energy usage which has helped them to save energy and reduce their utility bills: this is great news, especially in the current climate where utility costs are set to increase significantly next month,” said Susan Napier, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association’s Business Development Director.

Link to article: http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/news/262559-real-time-energy-monitor-could-could-cut-gas-bills-by-20/

In the Media: Inside Housing

Posted on August 2, 2011 by ewgeco

Trial backs use of energy monitors

Fitting energy monitors to homes could cut gas bills by 20 per cent, a study has found. The six month trial, carried out by the Scottish

Energy Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, found gas use dropped when energy monitors were clearly visible. Sixty-five housing association properties were fitted with energy monitors from Ewgeco.

Sixty-five housing association properties were fitted with energy monitors from Ewgeco. These show a red, amber or green light to indicate the level of energy use.In thirty of the homes the monitors were clearly on display, but it was hidden in the remainder.In the homes where the monitor was visible, gas use dropped by 20 per cent and electricity use by 7 per cent.Dr John Currie, director of the university’s energy centre, said: ‘Our findings demonstrate that in-house utility displays can offer a tangible means of energy reduction by enabling behavioural change.’

The UK government wants all homes to be fitted with smart meters that allow better monitoring of energy use by 2020.

The UK Technology Strategy Board funded the trial, which included new homes from Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, Perthshire Housing Association and Glen Housing.

Link to article: http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/sustainability/trial-backs-use-of-energy-monitors/6516745.article

In the Media: Building Products

Posted on August 2, 2011 by ewgeco

Smart saving

Smart monitoring could be a new way of cutting energy bills in housing association homes, increasing tenants’ awareness of their energy usage, Ewgeco suggests. Building Products reports.

Ewgeco’s energy monitors have been trialled in 65 housing association homes, and the results of the study have shown that energy bills have been significantly reduced. The six month trial was assessed by a team from Edinburgh Napier University.

“Our findings demonstrate that in-house utility displays can offer a tangible means of energy reduction by enabling behavioural change,” said study author John Currie, director of the Scottish Energy Centre at the university.The Ewgeco monitor’s simple traffic light display of green, amber and red highlights real-time low, medium or high energy usage. It works with ordinary utility meters to provide households with instantaneous information on their gas, energy and water consumption.
30 of the homes in the trial, which was funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board, had the Ewgeco monitor clearly on display, while it was hidden in the reminder of properties.
Researchers found that households that could see and use the energy-saving device consumed up-to 20% less gas, and 7% less electricity, compared to the properties with a hidden monitor. In interviews, around 94% of tenants also said that the Ewgeco device made them more aware of the energy they were using, while 73% said it made them use less energy.
The study was the first of its kind in the UK involving a real-time energy monitor to track and monitor domestic gas and electricity consumption. “What we found was that by allowing everyone in the home to see and quickly understand the electricity and gas being consumed, the Ewgeco monitor became a catalyst for increased awareness of wasted energy,” said Currie. He added: “With the introduction of smart metering technologies in all homes in the UK by 2020, it is imperative that such devices be linked with easy-to-understand interactive user-displays if national energy reduction targets are to be realised and not just seen as a means of providing utility suppliers with demand information.”
One study participant, a single mum with two children of primary school age, found it difficult to understand her bills and keep track of her spending until she discovered the Ewgeco’s daily target alarm app. “When I get back from work and the kids arrive back from school everything gets turned on and sometimes left on unattended for hours,” she said. “The alarm means we can now budget our energy use to how much I can actually afford every day.”
The real-time energy monitor was devised by Perth entrepreneur Tanya Ewing, who was named British Female Inventor of the Year in 2008. The former housewife, who was inspired to come up with the invention after receiving a particularly high gas bill, explained: “Having won multiple awards for what originally was a good idea, it is very rewarding to read this report and see the proof that Ewgeco does what it’s meant to do – save money and energy in an intuitive way without changing your lifestyle.”
Dunedin Canmore Housing Association, Perthshire Housing Association and Glen Housing participated in the study after installing Ewgeco monitors in their new developments. “This study indicates that the Ewgeco monitors have been helping our tenants to become more aware of their energy usage which has helped them to save energy and reduce their utility bills: this is great news, especially in the current climate where utility costs are set to increase significantly next month,” said Susan Napier, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association’s Business Development Director.

Link to article: http://buildingproducts.co.uk/features/smart-saving