PHAM NEWS | APRIL 2024 28 Energy Saving Products


On trial: how smart tech can up the efficiency


Energy solutions specialist SMS and Oxfordshire County Council have received government funding to conduct a smart homes trial involving up to 50,000 homes and small businesses in Oxfordshire, aiming to promote energy efficiency and flexibility. The £5.3 million in funding from


the UK government’s Alternative Energy Markets Innovation Programme is designed to find new ways for households to use energy more smartly and flexibly. The project aims to show how


giving people more information about their energy use and offering time-of-use tariffs that encourage using electricity when it’s cheaper (and greener) can help more people to start using Energy Smart Appliances (ESAs). ESAs are devices like batteries,


Landlords’ stat to fight against waste


TimeoStat is a range of thermostats designed for use in a variety of rental properties, including student rentals, Airbnb accommodations, serviced apartments, and holiday caravans. Features are aimed at reducing heating costs and providing convenience for both landlords and tenants. The range includes the CLASSIC and the ONE. The main feature of TimeoStat is


the countdown heating timer, allowing tenants to boost the heating for a limited period based on the duration set by the landlord. This helps prevent unnecessary heating when the property is unoccupied.


heat pumps or intelligent whitegoods that can automatically adjust when they use electricity based on when it’s cheaper or more environmentally friendly. This means they can use less power during busy, expensive times and more when it’s cheaper and greener. At the start of the trial, people will


get to see detailed information via an app, and then get personalised advice on how to make their homes more energy efficient, including the option to install smart technology


such as ESAs. These devices will be offered to consumers through an affordable monthly subscription that avoids the big upfront costs usually needed. Participants will also have the


option to switch to a special time-of-use tariff that charges less during off-peak hours. This can save money and reduce stress on the electricity grid, especially if they have smart devices that automatically adjust their energy use.


temperatures for morning, day, evening, and overnight. The Auto-Program feature allows tenants to set two automatic heating times determined by the landlord. Other features include the ability


The thermostat also includes simple controls with easy-to-read screens and buttons. The ONE model offers additional


features, such as a landlord app that enables remote management of multiple properties from a single login. It also includes a 24-hour heating schedule option, where landlords can set specific times and


Optimising the performance of heat pumps


The control technology from Passiv has been found by an independent assessment by the Energy Saving Trust to increase the space heating Coefficient of Performance (CoP) by 25% for hybrid heat pumps and 17% for standalone heat pumps. As soon as a home connects to the


Passiv Platform, it starts to build an energy model to understand its thermal properties and how it consumes energy. With this model, the Platform uses machine-learning and AI to determine how best to optimise the low-carbon technologies connected to it. This also removes the need for the installer to manually set a weather compensation curve. In addition to the energy savings,


for the landlord to set maximum and minimum temperature limits, a Comfort Warmth Mode where higher boost times result in lower maximum temperatures, tamper- proof settings to prevent unauthorised adjustments, and compatibility with window and humidity sensors for open window detection and humidity monitoring. TimeoStat inventor Anthony


Cherry recently appeared on Dragons’ Den and made a deal with Touker Suleyman, who invested £80,000 for a 30% stake, with that stake dropping to 20% providing he makes that money back. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/37


Many uses for central heating circulator


Passiv has introduced Greener Grid Payments, an automated Demand Side Response Service for home heating. Homeowners who use Passiv controls and their heat pumps to provide flexibility to the National Grid can receive payments of up to £100 per year. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/39


As one of the highest-efficiency circulator pumps in its range of central heating circulators, the Wilo-Stratos PICO-Z is designed for use in semi-detached houses, multi-family complexes, and smaller buildings with both residential and commercial areas. The pump offers different


operating modes to optimise energy consumption. It can supply hot water based on temperature control or manually set preferences, allowing for a more efficient and tailored usage.


A key feature is the stainless steel


pump housing, which ensures high hygienic safety for the entire domestic hot water system. It also


Demand flexibility For those who choose to install a smart device – such as a battery or heat pump – the project will also explore how these homes and businesses can benefit more from participating in the UK’s Demand Flexibility Service (DFS). This scheme, started by the National Grid ESO last winter, pays people to use less electricity during peak times. Smart devices can do this automatically, potentially saving a lot more energy and money. Tom Woolley, smart product & strategy director at SMS, says: “This innovative project represents a landmark for our industry, as it will be the first-ever example of an energy supplier-agnostic approach towards engaging UK consumers with energy usage on a significant scale. By being completely independent of energy supplier influence, we will be able to approach the project and the delivery of solutions to consumers from an impartial position with a clear objective in mind: to help them save money and optimise the demand flexibility of their homes. “By using energy data to


understand consumer behaviour


and the effectiveness of different propositions across alternative energy market scenarios, the project will also contribute valuable insights towards achieving the UK’s decarbonisation targets and for accelerating the mass adoption of smart energy technologies.” Dale Hoyland, retrofit team leader


within the Climate Action Service at Oxfordshire County Council, adds: “This project delivers multiple benefits; helping to tackle the climate emergency by minimising energy use when carbon loading on the electrical grid is highest; helping the cost of living crisis by testing innovative tariffs in an energy supplier-agnostic way, and providing a green financing mechanism for retrofit measures. It’s a win-win scenario and we’re delighted to support the roll-out across the county.” Alongside SMS and Oxfordshire


Country Council, the trial – which aims to retrofit 1,000 Oxfordshire properties – will be delivered by a consortium of partners including Samsung, My Utility Genius, Engage Consulting, Eliq, and Rebel Energy. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/36


Label has clear messaging on the performance of UFH


To give customers transparency regarding efficiencies and heat outputs, Omnie is placing benchmark performance information on all its underfloor heating products, including the TorFloor 2 integrated floor deck system and the LowBoard 2 overlay system panels. The 50/50 Performance


Benchmark offers two datasets for comparison:


the UFH heat output from a 50°C flow water temperature (in W/m2


) and


the flow water temperature needed to achieve a 50 W/m2


heat output. With this higher level of


transparency, Omnie aims to educate customers, dispel misinformation, and help them make informed choices for their heating systems. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/38


has the ability to detect thermal disinfection in the domestic hot water tank, further enhancing the hygiene of the system. The product is designed for easy


operation and features a large colour display and a clear settings menu. It also incorporates Green Button Technology, which simplifies the operation further. The pump provides real-time


information about important parameters such as temperature, flow, power consumption, and kilowatt hours consumed. This allows users to monitor and manage their hot water system effectively. The Wilo-Stratos PICO-Z also


offers optional communication capabilities using external modules, enabling integration with other systems or devices. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/424/40


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