SMARTER – a DEHEMS further development project launches

On Friday 26th February the first project deploying technology and research emanating from the DEHEMS project was launched.

The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change visited Manchester’s to launch the SMARTER project in the city’s Northern Quarter.  The Project will pave the way for businesses and residential properties to save money and reduce their carbon footprint and will establish the country’s first smart energy business district.

Commenting on the SMARTER project the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP said:

“Tackling climate change and reducing the amount of energy we consume starts in our homes and at our workplaces. It is very important that we find new ways of delivering energy savings for businesses and individuals and Greater Manchester is leading the way as the UK’s Low Carbon Economic Area for the built environment.

“Manchester’s pioneering SMARTER project will empower those in the district to more easily identify how they could use their energy more efficiently, lower their bills, and compare their energy use with others. The project will also attract businesses who want to show off their green credentials in a market where carbon footprint is an increasing consideration.”

The project, which is being jointly funded by Manchester City Council’s Carbon Innovation Fund and the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) Carbon Challenge Fund, is being delivered by the Commission for the New Economy working in partnership with the Greater Manchester Environment Commission.

The technology used in the SMARTER project is being provided by DEHEMS partner Clicks and Links.  Vin Sumner, Managing Director of Clicks and Links, said:

“SMARTER is the first opportunity to expand on the Research and Development that the DEHEMS project.  Without DEHEMS unique partnership of private companies, local authorities and educational institutions, these advances in energy metering solutions that affect proven behavioural change, would simply not be possible.”