EWE provides efficient energy usage tools
A unique pilot scheme for households
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions trading began on 1 January 2005 in the European Union. While the energy sector and industrial companies are currently free to participate in emissions trading, it is not open to private households yet. Private households emit around 160 million tonnes of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, accounting for a significant amount of all CO2 emissions. Up to now, private households have not been able to participate in emissions trading. The emissions from a single household may be small by comparison, but, when added together, private households are responsible for roughly one sixth of Germany’s total CO2 emissions. There are great savings to be made, especially in the housing sector. This is illustrated by an, as yet, unique pilot scheme that we are operating in collaboration with the district of Emsland. Roughly 130 houses and 20 apartment blocks are taking part. Over three years, we will investigate whether these households are able to reduce their CO2 emissions by using a new natural gas-fired boiler, by adopting
renewable energy sources, by improving the insulation in their homes and by changing their attitude to energy consumption. Participating householders are given plenty of expert advice as soon as they are recruited. For each additional tonne of CO2 that they save – i.e. over and above the prescribed guidelines – they receive a bonus of 20 euros. Already today, significant successes have been achieved: The data, that has so far been evaluated, show that the participants have emitted around 180 fewer tonnes of CO2. By the end of the
project, we still expect significantly higher reduction success rates. Based on this successfull pilot sceme we developped an internationally recognized climate protection project. Since October 2009, all private customers of EWE can participate in this project.
Innovative energy measurement and information system
Another innovation for private customers is the EWE trio Smart Box, which will soon allow EWE customers to look at detailed information about their electricity and natural gas usage whenever they wish. In April 2010, EWE presented the meter at the Hannover Trade Fair. The market launch of the EWE trio Smart Box is planned for autumn 2010. EWE developed the innovative energy measurement and information system with the help of the Frauenhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The meter was put through field tests since 2008. ISE scientists and EWE engineers not only tested the technology, but also had their eye on other aspects of the Box, particularly new tariff models such as electricity and natural gas tariffs which change depending on the time of day. The Box will enable household customers to measure their electricity consumption by the second an also show the associated CO2 emissions. This enables "energy guzzlers" in the home to be identified swiftly. As the field tests conducted with around 400 households in Oldenburg and Cloppenburg (Lower Saxony) showed, customers who are well informed about their energy consumption are also willing and able to make specific changes in their behaviour to reduce it. Savings of ten per cent were typical, and in some cases the figure was significantly higher.
This is one of EWE's contributions to the energy supply of the future. Peak loads can be reduced if consumption is distributed as intelligently as possible. The lower energy consumption that results is good for the environment.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions trading began on 1 January 2005 in the European Union. While the energy sector and industrial companies are currently free to participate in emissions trading, it is not open to private households yet. Private households emit around 160 million tonnes of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year, accounting for a significant amount of all CO2 emissions. Up to now, private households have not been able to participate in emissions trading. The emissions from a single household may be small by comparison, but, when added together, private households are responsible for roughly one sixth of Germany’s total CO2 emissions. There are great savings to be made, especially in the housing sector. This is illustrated by an, as yet, unique pilot scheme that we are operating in collaboration with the district of Emsland. Roughly 130 houses and 20 apartment blocks are taking part. Over three years, we will investigate whether these households are able to reduce their CO2 emissions by using a new natural gas-fired boiler, by adopting
renewable energy sources, by improving the insulation in their homes and by changing their attitude to energy consumption. Participating householders are given plenty of expert advice as soon as they are recruited. For each additional tonne of CO2 that they save – i.e. over and above the prescribed guidelines – they receive a bonus of 20 euros. Already today, significant successes have been achieved: The data, that has so far been evaluated, show that the participants have emitted around 180 fewer tonnes of CO2. By the end of the
project, we still expect significantly higher reduction success rates. Based on this successfull pilot sceme we developped an internationally recognized climate protection project. Since October 2009, all private customers of EWE can participate in this project.
Innovative energy measurement and information system
Another innovation for private customers is the EWE trio Smart Box, which will soon allow EWE customers to look at detailed information about their electricity and natural gas usage whenever they wish. In April 2010, EWE presented the meter at the Hannover Trade Fair. The market launch of the EWE trio Smart Box is planned for autumn 2010. EWE developed the innovative energy measurement and information system with the help of the Frauenhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. The meter was put through field tests since 2008. ISE scientists and EWE engineers not only tested the technology, but also had their eye on other aspects of the Box, particularly new tariff models such as electricity and natural gas tariffs which change depending on the time of day. The Box will enable household customers to measure their electricity consumption by the second an also show the associated CO2 emissions. This enables "energy guzzlers" in the home to be identified swiftly. As the field tests conducted with around 400 households in Oldenburg and Cloppenburg (Lower Saxony) showed, customers who are well informed about their energy consumption are also willing and able to make specific changes in their behaviour to reduce it. Savings of ten per cent were typical, and in some cases the figure was significantly higher.
This is one of EWE's contributions to the energy supply of the future. Peak loads can be reduced if consumption is distributed as intelligently as possible. The lower energy consumption that results is good for the environment.
The EWE trio Smart Box will allow customers to keep an eye on their energy consumption around the clock.