Ken McCorkindale, Ewgeco’s Co-founder and Technical Director, delivered a seminar on the use of smart technology for reduced energy consumption at EcoBuild in London last week.
His presentation focused on existing energy reduction technologies, how these interfaces will evolve with smart meter roll-out and the impact that this will have on the everyday lives of consumers.
The key points outlined in Ken’s seminar were:
• Well-designed displays and online interfaces that help consumers understand energy  consumption, such as Ewgeco, are already available and can be used already ahead of the smart meter roll-out
•These systems are able to connect to older meters and smart meters to provide useful information to consumers now
•The planned smart meter system will incorporate In-Home Displays (IHDs) and Consumer Access Portals (CAPs) which will provide consumers with information from the smart meter.
•The Consumer Access Portal will provide a means of communicating with other devices in the home such as phones and tablets but also smart appliances and controls.
•Smart meter data via smart apps will be used to empower consumers to choose how they use energy
•Consumers will be able to give up some of their control of appliances to their supplier in return for better tariffs
•Suppliers will need to find ways of rewarding energy efficient behaviour in the customers.
Ewgeco was invited to speak at the high profile conference, the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, as a founding member of The Consumer Energy Display Industry Group (CEDIG). Established in November 2011, CEDIG’s purpose is to make energy visible to consumers and Ewgeco is supporting the group in achieving this.
For more information about CEDIG visit www.beama.org.uk