ENMAT Energy Smart Metering

Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters and they can offer a range of intelligent functions.

For example they can tell you how much energy you are using through a display in your home. They can also communicate directly with your energy supplier meaning that no one will need to come and read your meter in future.

“Smart technology will change the way that customers interact with energy. Our customers will be able to see what their energy use means in pounds and pence and receive bills that accurately reflect their consumption. We will be able to work with our customers to develop the right products and services for them.”

Paul Massara, Chief Executive Officer Npower

Contact ENMAT today for  a full list of Smart Meters

ENMAT White Label Reseller Energy Tracking Software

Become a white label reseller of our Energy Tracking, Monitoring and Targeting Software bit.ly/10aXjfC

‘Window Socket’: Solar-Powered Plug Sticks To Window, Powers Anything

A concept has been unveiled for a solar-powered battery that can be stuck to a window, charged and then used as a standard plug.

The Window Socket offers a neat way to harness solar energy and use it as a plug socket. So far we have seen solutions that act as a solar battery backup, but none as a direct plug-in. Simple in design, the plug just attaches to any window and does its job intuitively.

Designed by Kyuho Song & Boa Oh, and published at Yanko Design, the plug is potentially an elegant solution to the problem of solar chargers that are either unfriendly or inelegant to use.

The design would place a 1000mAh battery inside the device, enough to charge a mobile phone.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be able to power a device requiring a high voltage like a kettle or vacuum cleaner, but could provide a nice solution for mobile gadgets or less power-intensive appliances.

Most Companies Get Greenhouse Gas Reports Wrong

LONDON (Reuters) – Most of the world’s largest companies do not report their greenhouse gas emissions fully or correctly and do not have the data independently verified, a study by an environmental research body showed on Wednesday.

Companies are under pressure worldwide from policymakers, and a public increasingly concerned with green issues, to report the environmental fallout of all activities related to their daily business – from plane journeys to office supplies.

Officials hope the data generated can point to potential energy savings and encourage firms to reduce their emissions, while many companies see it as a way of planning for exposure to long-term costs such as taxes on emissions.

The Environmental Investment Organisation (EIO) found that just 37 percent of the world’s 800 largest companies disclosed complete data and correctly adopted the basic principles of emissions reporting.

Only 21 percent had their data externally verified and only one firm, German chemicals producer BASF, reported emissions across its entire value chain – from sources such as business travel, transport, distribution and investments. This transparency placed it at number one in the rankings.

“This ought to be a wakeup call for companies. Since the majority of total corporate emissions often come from (value chain) sources, large quantities of emissions are not being accounted for,” said Sam Gill, chief executive of the EIO.

“Not only could this be a source of unmeasured risk for companies but it also means we are not getting the full picture in terms of corporate emissions,” he added.

Companies are increasingly measuring and disclosing their environmental performance in their annual reports. However, the lack of a universally accepted or mandatory standard means both reporting formats and content vary widely.

The EIO based its findings on the latest publicly available data, which for most companies was from 2011.

Global Carbon Emissions Set To Hit Alarming 400 Parts Per Million Milestone

For the first time in up to five million years, the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is about to reach 400 parts per million (ppm). Former NASA scientist James Hansen warned that levels over 350ppm would destabilize the earth’s climate, but now we have far exceeded that figure with a record-breaking weekly average of 398.5ppm recorded on Monday, The Guardian reports. Researchers at the Earth Systems Research Laboratory in Hawaii expect we will hit the 400ppm milestone in May, 2013.

Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have been steadily rising for 200 years. At the start of the industrial revolution, carbon emissions levels were at 280ppm. The CO2 level was recorded at 316ppm in 1958, when the Mauna Loa observatory started measurements.

Some experts say if levels exceed 350ppm, climate change will disrupt daily life on our planet. Much of the increase in carbon levels is tied to the burning of fossil fuels.

Although many industrialized nations have already reduced their carbon emissions, burning of fossil fuels still adds to the increase in atmospheric concentrations.

The last time CO2 levels were so high was likely in the Pliocene epoch, between 3.2m and 5m years ago, when Earth’s climate was significantly warmer than toda

Envantage Helps Customers Achieve ISO 50001

Envantage has extensive experience in providing guidance on the effective implementation of Energy Management Systems in accordance with ISO 50001

Using energy efficiently helps organizations save money as well as helping to conserve resources and tackle climate change. ISO 50001 supports organizations in all sectors to use energy more efficiently, through the development of an energy management system (EnMS).

ISO 50001:2011 provides a framework of requirements for organizations to:

Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy
Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy
Use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use
Measure the results
Review how well the policy works, and
Continually improve energy management.

New Energy Smart Meter Rules Approved

Ofgem has approved new industry rules designed to “protect and empower” domestic and business energy consumers.

The code, which comes into effect on June 1st of this year, has been developed by representatives from across the energy industry, with input from consumer groups.

Ofgem has further strengthened the code’s rules on face-to-face marketing following consultation, including making suppliers clearly state that consumers are under no obligation to receive face-to-face marketing.

Other measures include:

• Suppliers are prevented from conducting any sales when installing smart metering systems for domestic consumers

• Suppliers must gain prior consent from domestic consumers before the day of the visit in order to conduct face-to-face marketing

• Suppliers must adhere to detailed rules when obtaining prior consent for face-to-face marketing, plus behavioural rules should they seek to market to domestic consumers having gained prior consent

• Suppliers are prevented from levying an upfront charge for the supply and installation of a standard smart metering system to domestic consumers

• Suppliers must adhere to a number of requirements catering specifically for vulnerable consumers. Suppliers must take steps to identify consumers with specific needs in advance of the visit; and take steps to cater for installations where a carer needs to be present

• A section directing suppliers to provide information, advice and a practical demonstration to help consumers use their smart metering system and raise awareness of energy efficiency

Philip Cullum, Ofgem’s partner for consumer policy said the new rules establish a “rigorous protection regime that puts consumers first”.

“With the roll-out of smart meters getting fully under way next year, it is essential that householders and businesses have confidence that meter installations are done in a fair and professional way,” he added.

The code is supported with licence conditions, and powers to levy fines if rules are breached will also be implemented.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Baroness Verma said: “Consumers are at the heart of the smart metering programme – which is designed to help people become more in control of the energy they use, and more aware of how to lower their energy bills.

“This code is central to providing a positive customer experience during installation – including protecting customers from unwanted marketing and ensuring installers explain how the meter can be used to improve energy efficiency.

“I am very grateful for the efforts that industry have made in developing the code, and welcome Ofgem’s decision to approve it.”

Designation Of The Smart Metering Installation Code Of Practice

Click on the title to open a document
Title	Designation of the Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice - PDF – 90Kb
Document overview	This open letter designates the Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice for use by all domestic and micro-business suppliers installing compliant smart meters. The code sets out rules for suppliers to adhere to when conducting installations.
Associated documents	Smart Metering Installation Code of Practice – PDF – 1070Kb
Document type	Other
Publication date	25/04/2013
Area of work	Social Action
Further information	This document’s parent webpage