Daily Archives: August 3, 2011

Smart Meter, Smart Results

[image source="https://carbonetix.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/smart-meter.jpg" align="right"]Whilst CarbonetiX are big believers in the adage ”You can’t save what you don’t measure”, most energy monitoring devices in themselves cannot reduce consumption.

Real time energy data from smart meters has the power to help people identify ways to save on wasted energy but people must also be willing to implement these changes.  It is for this reason that data is so mixed when it comes to the success of smart meter rollouts.

Which is why we at CarbonetiX love it when success stories such as the following surface:

CenterPoint Energy of Texas installed 500 smart meters with instantaneous feedback and in-home displays in area homes.  The results are nothing short of remarkable.  Here are a few stats for you:[bulletlist]

  • 71% of customers changed their energy use behaviour based on the results of data on their in-home displays,
  • 83% of respondents reported turning off lights when not in the room or not in use,
  • 51% of respondents reported adjusting the temperature on their thermostat,
  • 93% of respondents reported they are satisfied with the in-home display,
  • 97% of respondents reported they will keep using it.[/bulletlist]

This is a perfect demonstration of the power of quantifying and demystifying energy consumption – not to mention a great advertisement for smart meters.

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Sony’s Carbon Cutdown

[image source="https://carbonetix.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/0410sony.jpg" align="right"]Sony Corporation recently announced that it has achieved and/or exceeded the majority of the targets set out in its “Green Management 2010″ (“GM2010”) mid-term environmental plan, including an over 30% reduction in global CO2 emissions across its business sites compared with fiscal year 2000 levels.

Sony’s GM2010 plan, introduced in 2006, aimed to reduce the Company’s environmental impact over the five-year period spanning fiscal years 2006 through 2010. The results of these initiatives have been confirmed through third-party verification.

GM2010 included a series of aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. Through the implementation of various innovative initiatives designed to achieve these goals, Sony successfully reduced CO2 emissions across its business sites by 31% (compared to 2000 levels), far surpassing the original 7% target specified in the GM2010 plan.

Sony’s initiatives included the use of alternative substances to replace substances with high global warming potential in its manufacturing processes, and the reduction of energy-related CO2 emissions through the installation of advanced energy systems, which have been optimised by Sony’s in-house energy conservation specialists to deliver maximum energy efficiency at Sony offices and manufacturing sites around the world. Sony was also instrumental in the introduction of the Green Power Certification System for renewable energy in Japan, and remains one of its largest users.

Across all regions, the company is working on reducing the life cycle impacts of its products through initiatives on e-waste, sustainable packaging and the electricity consumption of its products.

Other environmentally-friendly design features in Sony products include plastics made from recycled materials and presence sensors that automatically turn off equipment in empty rooms.

The company will face tougher conditions going forward. In its recently released quarterly results for the current fiscal year, Sony slashed it projected earnings for the year by 25 per cent. The company said the move was largely due to a decrease in production caused by the March tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

Source: http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201107/11-081E/index.html

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