School Energy Management

School Utilities have teamed up with NoWatt to provide schools with the latest generation of energy management systems.

About NoWatt

NoWatt is a technology leader in the energy monitoring sector. Rather than offering a hardware solution which just monitors energy usage, NoWatt uses inexpensive data collection to fuel a software solution that highlights the problems behind energy waste, enabling action to be taken. NoWatt energy management is an example of technology in action. We encourage the pupils and staff to actively incorporate our technology into their curriculum, using our web views to see the changes in consumption that their actions induce. Our easy to use interface allows the export of data to common desktop tools, so pupils can create projects – mapping usage data against classroom usage for example.

View the NoWatt Online Demo

NoWatt’s Business Philosophy

NoWatt started with a very simple philosophy: to help customers understand the detail behind their energy usage so as to drive down energy spend. Energy is one of the largest overheads for many businesses, yet it is still billed like a telephone in the 1960s. NoWatt provides the level of detail required to manage energy in the way that you would manage any other significant business cost. NoWatt doesn’t wait to tell you what you have already used – we show what you are using and, more importantly, where it is being used. NoWatt helps schools take the guess-work out of managing energy costs.

The Business case for Schools

The biggest financial challenge facing schools is the management of costs. Income is basically fixed in that school fees are known and income then is maximized by having a full quota of pupils. Not much can be done to reduce staff costs – one needs the staff to teach the pupils. However energy is an area where costs can be reduced. It is generally accepted that energy prices are set to rise dramatically, so the need to develop strong management capabilities is becoming ever more pressing.

Historically energy cost management has been done by comparison with past performance and instigating policies at a macro level. The reason for this is that it has been difficult and costly to monitor detail in real time. Measurement has been based around expensive meters which tend to be installed at an early stage of the supply, looking at the energy that has been used by a whole area. More recently the time period of reporting has come down to ½ hour intervals, but this is still at a macro level and certainly does not allow one to view the performance of individual devices effectively where they use a sub-30 minute cycle. Examples typically include devices that cool or heat such as freezers, chillers, water heaters etc..

The NoWatt Solution for Schools

NoWatt’s technology comprises simple, non-invasive hardware and hosted software which analyses and presents information via the web. The hardware sends sub-second readings to a central database where NoWatt stores, analyses and delivers energy usage information for any period, location or appliance. NoWatt’s software has simple navigation, allowing customers and consultants to drill down to circuits and appliances to find exactly where energy is being consumed, instantly.

NoWatt’s sophisticated data mining software enables schools to view their usage in a variety of ways (for example, by class, building or department), to recognize individual appliances, to set alerts and rules for equipment operation, and to test new policies and equipment in real-time.

NoWatt provides a new level of detail. We work with schools to do an ‘as is’ discovery of current energy usage as part of an initial cost-saving initiative. After collecting data, we analyse it, report findings and recommend targets as part of a long term strategy. NoWatt provides regular reviews to track progress. The policies gradually become ‘owned’ by motivated staff members and pupils– the power of viewing results in real-time leads to healthy competition

Current Business

NoWatt has brought its solution to market (the software is at version 4.0) and has an installed base of customers across a number of sectors including government, industry, education, offices, restaurants, printers and public transport. NoWatt has proven the value of its technology with these customers. oWatt’s solution is a significant differentiator, because it delivers short-term real value (helping customers reduce energy spend now) while also collecting the information needed to help customers define and measure longer-term energy saving and sustainability strategies.

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