Going shopping with your energy company
How many tomatoes do I need? How many cartons of milk? Will the kids be eating at home? Making the supermarket shopping list for the week is how we make sure we buy enough food, but not too much. Although not typically a daunting task, it takes a few minutes of thinking. But what if someone made your shopping list for you, always making sure you buy exactly what your family needs, and at the lowest prices? Sounds like a great service, right? Now imagine this service is offered by your energy company. It knows that you like a warm home on cold winter nights, and it knows you don’t like being shocked by high energy bills. It also knows that you and your family prefer solar energy to coal and hate breathing polluted air when you take an evening stroll through your city. Although they may not be your favorite service provider, energy companies understand your household’s needs and are working hard to be your personal “energy shopper”. The iURBAN project is creating an intelligent “brain” that makes this possible. The tool is being developed in close collaboration with energy customers and city governments to help transform two European cities – Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and Rijeka (Croatia) – into Smart Cities of the future. The three year project – awarded over 3.8 million € by the European Commission – was kicked off earlier this month in Plovdiv. Top members from the two city councils and their respective energy providers expressed that participation in iURBAN enhances their commitment to reducing energy costs and improving air quality for citizens. “The reality is, European cities will be powered more and more by decentralized, clean energy. For instance, many schools and hospitals now produce their own renewable energy, allowing them to significantly cut their energy expense. Energy companies – like the two participating in iURBAN – realize that they can benefit by being a part of this transition,” states Dr. Narcís Avellana, CEO of Sensing & Control Systems, who is leading the development of the iURBAN tool. “Our solution is unique because it is being designed with the direct involvement of local residents, businesses and public administration. These are the main actors who are becoming more aware of their energy use and are demanding cheaper, cleaner energy services.” In an iURBAN city, your energy company makes sure you get the best value for your money.
Keywords
Countries
Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Croatia, United Kingdom