The WeSave tool allows users to monitor differences in consumption, for example how much is used by people performing different jobs within a building, data which can be relevant in improving energy efficiency. It has a communications-based, open architecture, so information can be easily centralised; this information is made available to users in their own language. “The tool helps users to identify the underlying causes behind high levels of consumption,” explains Jiménez. If a fault occurs, users can respond quickly, thereby improving energy efficiency, while Jiménez says that the WeSave tool also has wider potential. “All of the information that is collected in the database is available in a cloud server. The data can be collected through an external system and even be sent to a database on another system. So it’s bi-directional – we can give the data, or take it from another system,” she outlines.
At a glance Full Project Title Eco public PLAtform for smart green CitizEn’s living labs (EPLACE) Project Objectives Smart Urban digital services for energy efficiency.
WeSave installation in Cultural center of Cartaya. One of the seven pilots. beyond the project’s initial target groups, potentially to include members of the public and domestic households. It is designed to be accessible, intuitive and easy-to-use, even for those without a technical background. “The platform has been developed for all kinds of users. Access is free, so all people can register, and enter invoices and their consumption data, to create their energy
The aim of the project is to provide a platform to public entities and building managers about energy efficiency. We aim to help building managers reduce energy consumption through ICT changes using the EPLACE platform, and also through the behaviour of the users of these buildings Smart Monitoring The other key monitoring tool in the project is the WeLight, a versatile and customized solution to meet customer needs, which is designed for smart monitoring and to save energy in streetlighting. It provides real-time information about the performance of a system and the status of public infrastructure, and can be adapted to monitor and control any public lighting panel. “It monitors and controls electricity, but through lighting. The control consists of switch-on and switch-off; furthermore, with WeLight we can reduce energy consumption without affecting comfort, through the regulation of the power intensity of the lighting” says Jiménez. The WeLight functionalities are divided into a telemanagement platform, alerts, reports and a location map, which provides the foundation for significant improvements in energy efficiency. “At the end of the project we plan to compare the situation prior to the installation of specific hardware with the situation after. This comparison will help energy service companies to draw up energy performance contracts,” explains Jiménez. The system could in future be extended
www.euresearcher.com
saving account,” says Jiménez. Each of the pilot studies are providing feedback on the platform, while it is also being assessed in other scenarios, information which will be used to guide its ongoing development. “Some users may not understand a specific portal, a translation may be incorrect, or they might prefer to have a report in a PDF format,” outlines Jiménez. “We can adapt these things during the project to the requirements of the user. If we make these changes now, we will have a more suitable product to put on the market later.” A large amount of data has been gathered during the course of the pilot studies, from which researchers will be able to build a deeper understanding of buildings in different locations and the impact of specific changes. This can form the basis for setting longer term objectives about improvements in energy efficiency and identifying how they can be achieved. “We will do an energy audit in a few months with all the data and use it to draft an energy performance contract per pilot building. Each of the building managers can decide whether to stay in it, and we will keep up the dissemination activities, heightening awareness of energy efficiency,” continues Jiménez.
Project Funding Total budget: €1.451.993 Total funded: (50%): €725.996 Grant agreement no.: 325182 Project Partners Wellness Telecom SL, Spain • Regionalna Energiina Agencia Pazardjik Sdruzenie, Bulgaria • Municipality of Septemvri, Bulgaria • Erato Ad, Bulgaria • SEnerCon GmbH, Germany • City of Dublin Energy Management Agency Limited, Ireland • Arden Energy Limited, Ireland • Consorcio para el Desarrollo de Politicas en Materia de Sociedad de la Informacion y el Conocimiento en Andalucia “Fernando de los Rios”, Spain • Aton Energy Solutions SL, Spain • Agencia de Medio Ambiente y Agua de Andalucia, Spain Contact Details Project Coordinator, Mrs Alicia Jiménez González Calle Charles Darwin SN, Pabellion Monorrail 41092 Sevilla Spain T: +34 95415 1706 E: ajimenez@wtelecom.es W: www.eplaceproject.eu
Mrs Alicia Jiménez González
Mrs Alicia Jiménez González is Master Engineer in Telecommunication Sciences from the University of Seville. She is a university expert in international R&D&I Project management. She has worked as Radio Access Engineer at LCC Wireless Communication Services Spain and as international project manager for smart applications in Adevice Solutions SL. She currently works as R&D&I project manager in Wellness Telecom. She is participating in different national (CONSULTING3.0, SEDA, WePark, ADAPTA) and international (FP7 CUMULUS, CIP EPLACE) R&D projects.
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