Greenwich Energy Hero is a 12-month trial which will help 100 local residents use electricity more efficiently in the home, whilst earning rewards in the process. People can decide either to exchange their rewards for vouchers, or join together collectively to donate to a local charity.
- An energy advisor called a Green Doctor installs a free device onto residents’ electricity meters. The device is supplied free of charge by KiWi Power.
- The device is connected to an app which will alert residents – when there is high demand and a low supply of electricity in the local area when consumer response could aid the system.
- Residents will be asked to reduce their electricity usage for 1-3 hours, turning off non-essential electrical appliances or using them later. Residents will receive these alerts on average once or twice a month, and can decide whether they are able to participate or not each time.
- If residents respond to alerts, they can earn points. Points can either be converted into vouchers (an estimated £5-£35 a year), or residents can combine rewards to make a donation to a local charity.
As well as providing real time electricity usage data, the app also offers energy saving tips, indicates which appliances are using the most electricity, and a leader board so residents can see how well they are doing in the borough.
Cllr Denise Hyland, cabinet member for economy, skills and apprenticeships said: “By trialling smart technologies with projects such as Greenwich Energy Hero, we are able to solve energy challenges, as well as help 100 of our residents to use less electricity, meaning they can lower their electric bills.”
Nikita Vajani, product manager at Kiwi Power, said “KiWi Power believes domestic electricity consumers should have access to the same opportunities and benefits our commercial and industrial clients see from demand side response. This market segment has great potential but to achieve success at scale requires a good understanding of consumption patterns and behaviours as well as identifying the best channels and messages for sustained engagement.”
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