Embrace Energy-Efficient Hardware

One of the most straightforward ways to make your business greener is by investing in energy-efficient hardware. Modern computers, servers, and other office equipment are designed with energy conservation in mind, often consuming significantly less power than their older counterparts.
Consider implementing a policy of replacing older, energy-hungry equipment with more efficient models. While this may require an initial investment, the long-term energy savings can be substantial. A lot of manufacturers now offer trade-in or recycling programmes for old equipment, ensuring that outdated technology is disposed of responsibly.

Implement Smart Building Technology

Smart building technology can significantly reduce energy consumption in office spaces. These systems use sensors and automation to optimise heating, cooling, and lighting based on occupancy and time of day. For instance, smart thermostats can learn your office’s occupancy patterns and adjust the temperature accordingly, preventing energy waste when the building is empty. Similarly, smart lighting systems can automatically dim or turn off lights in unoccupied areas.

Leverage Remote Work Technologies

Businesses can reduce commuting-related emissions and decrease the energy consumption of their office spaces.
Invest in reliable video conferencing software, project management tools, and cloud-based collaboration platforms. These technologies enable teams to communicate and collaborate efficiently without the need for physical presence in the office.

Reduce Waste By Optimising Your Cloud Usage

While cloud computing offers many benefits, it’s important to use these services efficiently to minimise unnecessary energy consumption. Optimising your cloud usage can not only reduce your environmental impact but also lead to cost savings.
Start by conducting an audit of your current cloud usage. Identify any unused or underutilised resources that can be eliminated or downsized. Many cloud providers offer tools to help you monitor and optimise your usage.
Consider implementing auto-scaling for your cloud resources. This ensures that you’re only using (and paying for) the computing power you need at any given time, rather than constantly running at peak capacity. Talk to the team at Xtremax if you’ve got questions about cloud usage. They can help with application modernisation, cloud managed services and more.

Implement Sustainable Software Practices

Software design and development can play a crucial role in reducing environmental impact. Efficient software requires less computing power and, consequently, less energy to run.
Encourage your development teams to prioritise efficiency in their coding practices. This might involve optimising algorithms, reducing unnecessary computations, or implementing more efficient data storage and retrieval methods.

Use AI for Environmental Monitoring and Optimisation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies can be powerful tools for environmental management. These technologies can analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns and optimise processes for greater efficiency.
For instance, AI can be used to predict energy usage patterns and automatically adjust systems for optimal efficiency. In manufacturing or logistics operations, AI can help optimise supply chains to reduce waste and minimise transportation emissions.

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The demand is pushing energy services and technology companies to integrate their solutions and come up with advanced mechanisms that can help consumers to address challenges such as high energy bills and the removal of manual processes in doing so.

In response to this trend, energy company Enel X has partnered with data services firm Unidata and communications technology company ZTE to launch an integrated smart home connectivity solution.

The launch of the solution is part of the companies’ efforts to ensureincreasingly advanced and cost-effective smart home management.

The solution will enable consumers to use a single platform, an internet modem, to control home heating and lighting and monitor energy consumption in real-time.

The solution – called Gigafiber Smart Home – comprises Unidata’s internet connectivity solution with Enel X’s Homix smart home technology and equipment and ZTE’s Wi-fi modem.

Unidata’s package will also include unlimited calls whilst Enel X’s will include a smart home energy management system, smart light bulbs and smart room range. Users will be able to manage smart home devices directly from smartphones using the Homix app. Alexa users can also download the Homix skill for voice control, making home management.

Renato Brunetti, the CEO of Unidata, said: “The choice of this partnership, embodies everything that characterises and will continue to characterise all our lives in the future, both at home and at work: high performance, speed, the Internet of Things and Home Automation.

IoT and smart home market in Italy

The launch of the product comes at a time when the Italian Internet of Things (IoT) market is evolving. A study conducted by the special IoT Lab of Italy’s largest technical university Polimi states that the country’s IoT market generated €6 billion ($7.2 billion) in 2020 of which €505 million ($609.9 million) was generated within the smart home segment alone. The majority of the revenue within the smart home sector was due to increasing sales in smart boilers, thermostats and conditioners which are used for managing heating and air conditioning.

In regard to consumer awareness of smart homes in Italy, over two-thirds of Italian consumers have heard of the smart home at least once (69%), Polimi’s study has revealed. The level of knowledge is highest among 18 to 34-year-olds (82%) and among users who are most familiar with technology (89%). The percentage of users who own at least one device (43%) and the use of smart functionality is also increasing (19% have increased their use, 13% have reduced it).

5G is expected to further evolve, standardise and consolidate the smart home market as it would improve interoperability between the different IoT devices.

Home automation in Europe

The trend in Italy is not unique. In Europe, the home automation market is expected to expand by 17.2% per annum through 2027 with revenue anticipated to reach $1.50 billion from $495.3 million in 2020, according to a new study released by research company Frost & Sullivan.

The market is expected to be driven by increased demand for indoor air quality products and growing consumer awareness of energy-efficient retrofitting. European Commission’s push to modernise buildings with energy efficiency will boost demand, says Frost & Sullivan.

Anirudh Bhaskaran, Energy & Environment Senior Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan, said: “Consumer awareness of the need for energy efficiency and introduction of government grants for green and energy retrofit homes will also expand the overall home automation products market—lighting, indoor climate control, entertainment control, and window/shutter/blind control—over the next 5 to 7 years.

“Though a professional home automation system is seen as a luxury segment of the smart homes ecosystem, its attractiveness can be improved within the mainstream segment through value-added offerings. Additionally, with low prices, the do-it-yourself (DIY) smart home products pose a huge threat to professional home automation products. This encourages home automation systems market participants to acquire or partner with DIY mid-market players to help top-end participants thrive in the market by offering value-addition and competitive pricing.”

(Originally posted on Smart Energy International)

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