Archive for Living Labs News
DEHEMS Energy Monitoring Roll Out
Posted by: | CommentsThe DEHEMS installations are now well under way. In the past two weeks over installations have been fast paced, with volunteers coming in daily.In Manchester, Greenlight Computers working round the clock to meet the deadline. The kit involves a clamp on to the live cable at the householders meter transmitting data to the data controller box which is connected to the users broadband router. The householder can then then view their electricity usage online. The next phase is to install the individual plug meters (IAM’s) from Plugwise in a selected number of homes.
Energy Monitoring Clamp
Data Collector
DEHEMS Cycle 2 Equipment Has Landed!
Posted by: | CommentsWith a change of season and the promising signs of a real summer, DEHEMS home energy monitoring equipment is ready for installation. The new equipment has a number of similarities with those which were used in the first phase. However, the new equipment is programmed to integrate a number of other energy monitoring kit. For example, we will be introducing ‘appliance level monitoring’ – where plug adaptors or plug-level monitors, will be used to measure the amount of energy being used by each individual appliance – e.g. TV, washing machine and so on. We also introducing solution to measure gas usage, but again this is still in development.
Each Living Lab will offer a limited number of plug-level energy monitors. Using these we will be able to collect accurate data about energy usage. The plugs will act as an interface between your mains socket and the appliance (e.g. TV), transmitting information to the data receiver and the information will display on the dashboard online.
The plan is for installations to be completed by the end of May by the teams at the three UK living labs and the two in Bulgaria. This includes both online help via FAQs as well as a support line to answer any queries. There will be opportunity for users share experiences and learning with fellow DEHEMS participants via the DEHEMS Facebook group as well as at focus groups. We will also be asking everyone involved to help us with an online or telephone survey.
Dehems Plug Level Metering: Plugwise
Posted by: | CommentsThe Dehems project wil be offering a number of households, (from the five partner cities) energy monitoring plugs that enable the readout of electricity consumption and running costs of connected appliances. The plugs are a product from Plugwise, a Dutch company who have been developing energy management systems since 2006. Their UK compatible plugs have arrived on the market just this month.
The system offers a wireless energy management system allowing domestic users to gain detailed understanding of their energy consumption where they see it: at the plug on the wall. The plug system uses a wireless network to feedback to the Dehems dashboard to enable uses to gain an understanding of the energy usage of individual appliances. More details will be available as soon as the first installation takes place .. watch this space.
