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Major utility company is first to highlight smart homes

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Posted on July 7, 2011 by ecoadmin 

Dean Keeling, managing director, British Gas Smart Homes

Smart homes are the positive way forward for future home efficiency, saving money and reducing carbon emissions, says Dean Keeling, managing director, British Gas Smart Homes.

He says: “You probably know that Britain’s households are responsible for over a quarter of the UK’s CO2 emissions. And two-thirds of homes today will still be lived in by 2050.

“There are still over 4 million inefficient boilers in the UK. Six million homes are without cavity wall insulation. Seven million are without proper loft insulation.

“Just putting this right could cut the carbon footprint of the average British home by around 20%.”

According to Keeling: “For instance, there is cavity, loft and next generation insulation; intelligent energy efficient boilers; charge points for electric vehicles; combined heat and power generators; smart appliances; high-speed internet; and integrated security and sensors.

“Some of these are already familiar to the average British householder.  The rest is becoming more of a reality by the day.”

It appears that all utility customers will eventually move from a billing system based on just two meter readings a year, through to having guaranteed, transparent and visible real time billing.  This will herald a true consumer empowerment that will deliver real savings in both money and carbon.  And they will be less likely to get into debt and the hassle of submitting meter readings will be a thing of the past.

Customers will have instant accessible information on energy use, through a display, even on laptops, TVs or phones.
Smart meters will tell customers when appliances have been left on, what energy is being used, as well as pointing to the best tariff for a household to be on.  Soon meters – this is already happening in some parts north American – will able to tell your dishwasher the cheapest time to switch itself on.

British Gas has committed to going early on smart meters, rolling out 260,000 this year and over a million in the next year. It’s taking a leadership position, at its own risk, because it recognises that smart meters will transform relationships with its customers by giving them real-time, transparent billing information.

More information: www.britishgas.co.uk

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