Energy Rethinking - use less save more

Fit and forget is the Holy Grail of energy efficiency. Imagine a device:

• that any electrician could install
• that would cut your electricity consumption – and carbon footprint – by up to 12%
• that would require no maintenance and
• and that would allow you to live your life and use your household appliances without changing your lifestyle in the slightest.

Like a lot of engineering professionals, the Chester-based company, VPhase, knew that such a device, known as a voltage optimiser, already existed on a large scale and had been creating energy efficient saving  for industrial sites and large businesses for years. Their breakthrough idea – an idea that resulted in them being named a Shell-Springboard regional winner and national finalist in 2010, was a patented thermal management system that made voltage optimisation a reality for domestic installations and small businesses.

What is voltage optimisation
As a result of European standardisation, most household appliances and electrical fixtures need an electrical supply of 220V for best operation. But the power range of mains electricity permitted by the EU is between 207V and 253V. In practice, most UK households receive mains power at about 245V.

The VPhase device , lowers and regulates household current at a steady 220V. Everything, from energy saving light bulbs to washing machines, fridges and vacuum cleaners, operates just as it did before. The key difference is a dramatic reduction in power consumption – an average of 10% overall but as much as 17% for some, high power consuming appliances such as central heating pumps and freezers. According to Matt Cody, head of marketing at VPhase, theirs is a “fit and forget” solution, requiring no lifestyle changes at all.

A social housing solution
But, at a cost of about £300 per installed unit, and a potential payback of about five years was VPhase a commercially viable product (one of the judging criteria for Shell-Springboard)? Cody takes up the story.

“As a national finalist in Springboard, we were able to work with Camco,” Cody said. (Editor’s. Note: Camco develops greenhouse gas emission reductions and clean energy projects and provides project development and policy advice.) “They advised us on a social housing marketing strategy, in order to get the market penetration we wanted.”

As a result of the advice and Springboard funds, VPhase became a principal sponsor of Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow (SHIFT), an organisation that assesses affordable housing providers for energy efficiency and green credentials.

The company had concluded trials with the Great Places Housing Group, an association that provides 15,000 affordable homes across 30 northwest council areas in May 2010. In the first stage of the trial, VPhase achieved average electricity savings of 8.7% and average yearly CO2 savings of 183kg. This was a 3.6% reduction of average whole house CO2 emissions, about a third of Great Places’ overall target, according to Cody. He also noted that other studies have shown voltage optimisation, is second only to insulation in increasing the energy efficiency of homes. Currently, the VPhase device is the only product in its class on the market.

Following the successful trials, Great Places announced, in July, that the VPhase device will be specified in its new builds and rewires.