Energy giant E.On has partnered with housing developer Berkeley Homes for a ‘Future Energy Home’ pilot that combines various energy saving technologies in South London.
The duo have installed a raft of energy technologies in new homes that form Berkeley’s Kidbrooke Village, promising to deliver a “lower cost, less carbon-reliant lifestyle” for homeowners.
Domestic solar, energy storage, smart thermostats and electric vehicle chargers have been integrated alongside a centralised, tablet-based dashboard that provides consumers more control over their energy consumption and management.
LG Chem batteries have been installed alongside Solis inverters, while Tado smart thermostats have been fitted to electric heaters in the homes. In addition to providing savings, E.On has said the batteries will be used to “relieve pressure” on the power grid at peak times, hinting that their aggregated capacities could be used to provide balancing services.
The joint project has been established to improve understanding of the relationship between consumers and energy use, and the findings will inform decisions from both E.On and Berkeley on the development of similar homes in the future.
Berkeley has a long-standing aim of ensuring all its housing developments are net zero carbon by 2030, with this pilot study part of reaching that goal.
Michael Lewis, chief executive at E.On UK, said that while the UK had made “great strides” in establishing lower carbon energy sources, housing and transport were very much the “next challenge”.
“The new energy world is decentralised, green, and interconnected but sustainability is about more than technology, it is most importantly about creating something that fits with people’s lives. Our work with Berkeley on the Future Energy Home is about making sure homes are smart and lower carbon but also convenient and manageable when it comes to managing our busy lives.”
Karl Whiteman, divisional MD at Berkeley Homes, said the house building sector needs a “clear focus” on sustainability and efficiency.
“As technology progresses we also want [to] see energy management becoming second nature to consumers; our goal is to help them on the journey there by showing them how it can become a seamless addition to their homes.”
