A new pilot app that hopes to bring energy savings to the masses was introduced at the 2nd Occupational and Health and Safety Congress in the Turkey's electricity distribution sector on Thursday in Antalya.
Johannes Reichl from the Energy Institute at the JKU Linz, the app developers, introduced the PEAKapp – or Personal Energy Administration Kiosk Application as an 'ICT-ecosystem for energy savings through behavioral change, flexible tariffs and fun.'
Essentially the app is an accompaniment to smart metering and is capable of working out cheap electricity tariffs for households.
The app is designed to engender a more energy efficient lifestyle, to cut down the annual electricity budget of households, which according to the pilot scheme would be in the region of €160 (753 TL), to promote the use of smart metering – an essential component for the app, and reduce energy consumption.
One function of the app can advise through notifications when the optimal time would be to avail of low tariff electricity allowing households to plan ahead to use their washing machine or binge watch their favorite TV series.
The app can monitor and detail household electricity usage per hour, per day or per week, make comparisons with other household users based on similar living environments. This can be done to ascertain if your usage is lower or higher, and for those who want to advertise how eco-friendly they are, can upload their usage to Facebook.
The European Union has provided funding for the project that will see 80 percent of EU consumers having smart metering systems by 2020.
The pilot is currently taking place in Austria, Sweden, Latvia and Estonia.
However, the app cannot be merely downloaded to android or IOS systems, but needs to partner with an electricity distribution company that already has a robust smart metering infrastructure. Therefore, plans to roll out the app to Turkey would need to have this infrastructure in place, which could be in the medium rather than the short term.
Reichl explained that up to now electricity transition as in electric cars etc. has been more geared towards the upper echelons of society. This app, however, attempts to bridge this gap and make it available to all users who have access to smart phones.
He envisages that apps like this are a glimpse into the future use of technology in which greater connectivity and integration to even household white goods will be possible.
To enhance the app's appeal, a fun element has been introduced through a betting game that will allow users to guesstimate electricity usage and adjust the reality by simulating energy consumption or production on their smartphones.
By Anne Akti
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr