ARUP "impressed" during evaluation of Plogg wireless energy meter

Global design and engineering consultancy Arup has been "impressed" by trials of Plogg Blu, the new Bluetooth-based wireless power meter from Energy Optimizers Ltd..

Best known for its high-profile work in the building structures sector, Arup has successfully positioned itself at the forefront of sustainability in its field. An increasing number of its clients enquire about sustainable strategies, usually involving reducing the power consumption of all or many of the electrical appliances across a site or operation. This led Justin Trevan, Consultant with Arup’s Communications — a specialist office providing ICT (Information and communications technology) services to clients — to evaluate Plogg Blu as an element in enhancing client service offerings.  

“Plogg is a very powerful tool for collecting an impressive range of power consumption data from electrical appliances, including data I would never have thought of monitoring,” said Justin Trevan. “Despite this it is very easy to use. I was particularly impressed by its read range: I could read nearly all the meters throughout the office from the laptop on my desk via Bluetooth.”

Following the evaluation, Arup will examine the viability of extending its client services in the sustainability arena.

Energy Optimizers selects Ramtron’s nonvolatile F-RAM memory for wireless energy management plug

F-RAM instead of EEPROM for Optimal Data Logging. In the Plogg, F-RAM provides fast and reliable data storage for up to 5,000 measured values and their associated date/time stamp, at intervals of one minute to one month.  When logging at one-minute intervals, the endurance limit of EEPROM is quickly reached, so an alternative nonvolatile memory technology is required. The optimal option is      F-RAM, which has virtually unlimited endurance and will not wear out.

Ramtron International Corporation (Nasdaq: RMTR), a leading developer and supplier of nonvolatile ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) and integrated semiconductor products, today announced that UK-based Energy Optimizers Ltd......

Ramtron International Corporation full press release

ZigBee makes electric outlets smart

Using Ember’s EM250 ZigBee “system-on-chip” transceiver and EmberZNet PRO wireless mesh networking software running on a Telegesis module, a network of ploggs can self organize to provide robust coverage of the home or building. The plogg can act as an end device, a router or ZigBee coordinator. It is available as a stand-alone end-user device, or part of an energy reporting network, or as an embeddable device for OEM products.

Ember Corporation develops ZigBee wireless networking technology that enables companies involved in energy technologies – enertech – to help make buildings and homes smarter, consume less energy, operate more efficiently, and keep people comfortable and safe. Ember’s low-power wireless technology can be embedded into a wide variety of devices to be part of a self-organizing mesh network.

Ember Corporation full press_release

Plogg inventor is energy champion in international environmental awards

Energy Optimizers Ltd, developer of the Plogg wireless smart power meter, has been named Green Champion in the field of Fuel, Power and Energy at the Green Apple Awards for environmental best practice. In a prestigious awards ceremony held at the UK Houses of Parliament in London, Shaun Merrick, General Manager of Energy Optimizers, received the prize from botanist and environmental campaigner Professor David Bellamy.

Over the last 13 years, the Green Apple Awards have become established as one of the major schemes to recognize and promote environmental best practice around the world. A panel of judges, including representatives of the UK Environment Agency and the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health, chooses the winners according to a range of criteria, including environmental benefit, innovation, social and economic benefits, commitment to sustainable development, and forward vision as embodied in future development plans.

Energy Optimizers received its award for developing the Plogg range of smart power meters capable of monitoring electrical appliances wirelessly on a PC, laptop, PDA or smart phone. Using Bluetooth or Zigbee wireless technology, Plogg enables power consumption to be checked in real time, monitored over a longer period, and controlled remotely from anywhere within a building or site.

“The purpose of the Green Awards is to improve environmental performance and encourage the efficient use of resources,” said Roger Wolens of independent environmental group the Green Organisation, which organizes the awards. “Competition for this year’s awards was the toughest in 13 years, so Energy Optimizers has done particularly well to come out on top in the all important Fuel, Power and Energy category.”

Energy Optimizers General Manager Shaun Merrick commented: “I’m delighted that our efforts in developing the most fully functioned smart power meter on the market have been recognized in this way. At a time when environmental concerns and rising energy prices are causing both businesses and individuals to examine their energy use, Plogg brings the energy saving technology of tomorrow within the reach of everybody, today.”

Bluetooth power meter enables wireless energy management

The world’s first smart power meter to provide wireless data delivery to PCs, laptops and PDAs has been launched by Energy Optimizers. Plogg Blu is a simple plug-in device that allows the electricity consumption of an appliance to be checked in real time, monitored over a longer period, and even controlled remotely from anywhere within a building or site.

Connected between an electrical appliance and the mains supply, Plogg Blu combines highly accurate kilowatt-hour (kWh) measurement with a powerful data logging capability. Integrated Bluetooth delivers data to a PC, Pocket PC compatible PDA (Windows Mobile 5 or 6) or, with a software upgrade available shortly, to a Bluetooth equipped smart phone.

Energy data can be displayed in different formats and exported to Excel for further manipulation. Remote switching allows appliances to be turned off and on directly from the controlling PC or wireless device.

“Plogg is the smart energy saving technology of the future, available today,” said Shaun Merrick, General Manager of Energy Optimizers. “Even at today’s prices, it can pay for itself quickly in terms of energy savings, and its cost benefits will increase as energy prices continue to rise.”

Plogg’s simple plug-and-socket design allows easy installation even in locations with difficult access.