We met Yawarra a few days ago at an exhibition. We were very impressed with their tiny PCs that draw miniscule amounts of power - 10-12 Watts when running and only 1.5 Watts in standby. I actually couldn't believe how small they were until I held on in my hand.
www.Yawarra.com.au
If we ever need a PC we'll be buying one of these in a heartbeat.... you could kit out an office with these and save a fortune in power bills.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Smart Grid time-of-use pricing put on hold
For a while we have been slightly concerned about the Victorian Smart Grid roll-out.
Basically, the customer pays for the Smart Meter, and gets none of the benefits.
This snuck under our radar six weeks ago - apparently they're continuing to deploy the Smart Meters but they're not going to be used for time-of-use pricing for the time being.
www.premier.vic.gov.au
In the mean time, whilst they sort this out, you can get a Current Cost ENVI to give you the information that enables you to take control of your own energy use from us at SmartNow.
Basically, the customer pays for the Smart Meter, and gets none of the benefits.
This snuck under our radar six weeks ago - apparently they're continuing to deploy the Smart Meters but they're not going to be used for time-of-use pricing for the time being.
www.premier.vic.gov.au
In the mean time, whilst they sort this out, you can get a Current Cost ENVI to give you the information that enables you to take control of your own energy use from us at SmartNow.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Turn Off Your Coffee Machines...
A Current Cost ENVI was recently installed in the legendary Melbourne restaurant, The Graham (www.thegraham.com.au), a few days ago.
It was discovered that between midnight and nine AM, over 100kWh had been used.
A substantial proportion (approximately half) can be attributed to fridges, cold rooms, security systems and an oven that is left on overnight to slow roast various dishes.
However, the rest of it came from the coffee machine. Over the course of the night is used 60kWh just to keep the water hot. If turned off over night it only takes ten minutes to heat up again in the morning.
Total saving per year? Approximately $3500.
Total saving over the lifetime of the coffee machine (assuming 25 year life)?
$87000.... and that's assuming that electricity prices are going to stay the same!
www.smartnow.com.au
It was discovered that between midnight and nine AM, over 100kWh had been used.
A substantial proportion (approximately half) can be attributed to fridges, cold rooms, security systems and an oven that is left on overnight to slow roast various dishes.
However, the rest of it came from the coffee machine. Over the course of the night is used 60kWh just to keep the water hot. If turned off over night it only takes ten minutes to heat up again in the morning.
Total saving per year? Approximately $3500.
Total saving over the lifetime of the coffee machine (assuming 25 year life)?
$87000.... and that's assuming that electricity prices are going to stay the same!
www.smartnow.com.au
Monday, April 19, 2010
Energy Efficiency on the World Stage
The fastest, cheapest way to make the biggest impact on the available domestic energy supply is through energy efficiency.
Closing the efficiency gap between available and cost-effective options and the wasteful way energy is presently used will not only reduce the pressure on world resources; it will also save money, an estimated $2-to-$4 for every dollar spent.
Energy Efficiency on the World Stage
Depending on your point of view, this post is a little on the dramatic side for our liking. However, it does raise some interesting points and shows that energy efficiency is a measure that can be taken now and will save money - it's an important point, and makes the arguments over anthropogenic global warming completely irrelevant.
Energy efficiency saves money.
Closing the efficiency gap between available and cost-effective options and the wasteful way energy is presently used will not only reduce the pressure on world resources; it will also save money, an estimated $2-to-$4 for every dollar spent.
Energy Efficiency on the World Stage
Depending on your point of view, this post is a little on the dramatic side for our liking. However, it does raise some interesting points and shows that energy efficiency is a measure that can be taken now and will save money - it's an important point, and makes the arguments over anthropogenic global warming completely irrelevant.
Energy efficiency saves money.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Power upload to Pachube!
So here it is - the live feed of my apartment's power consumption using the Bridge!
This has been achieved using a Current Cost ENVI (CC128), plugged into a prototype "Bridge" (basically an Arduino with some cunning software on it) which is then plugged direct into an internet router.
The Bridge will be commercially available in early May.
The timestamp on this is about ten hours out, as I am in Melbourne and this timescale is in Zulu, but you should get the idea. You can see the spikes where I turn the electric hob on, and the cycling of the fridge.
This has been achieved using a Current Cost ENVI (CC128), plugged into a prototype "Bridge" (basically an Arduino with some cunning software on it) which is then plugged direct into an internet router.
The Bridge will be commercially available in early May.
The timestamp on this is about ten hours out, as I am in Melbourne and this timescale is in Zulu, but you should get the idea. You can see the spikes where I turn the electric hob on, and the cycling of the fridge.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Current Cost ENVI now uploading direct to Pachube
So we've just received the prototype Bridge...
Simply plug an ENVI into the Bridge, plug the Bridge into your internet router, and hey presto! Power information being uploaded to the internet!
pachube :: connecting environments, patching the planet - bridge19
Lots of potential here...
Simply plug an ENVI into the Bridge, plug the Bridge into your internet router, and hey presto! Power information being uploaded to the internet!
pachube :: connecting environments, patching the planet - bridge19
Lots of potential here...
Sunday, March 28, 2010
NSW Power Price to rise 64% in 3 years
A large proportion of our customers are from NSW, where power price rises over the last few years are really putting the squeeze on consumers.
But there is worse to come:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/ets-has-no-bearing-on-power-hike-wong/story-e6frg90f-1225842361557
Scary, if you're a family of four in a conventional (i.e. badly built) Australian house, trying to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter using electricity.
But there is worse to come:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/ets-has-no-bearing-on-power-hike-wong/story-e6frg90f-1225842361557
Scary, if you're a family of four in a conventional (i.e. badly built) Australian house, trying to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter using electricity.
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