Wireless sensor network for electricity management in buildings

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LESSTRICITY aims to develop a centralised wireless management system capable of eliminating the wasteful use of electrical power from appliances left switched on or in standby mode. The LESSTRICITY system will be self-sustaining and flexible to enable control of both multiple and remote buildings. This innovative system will offer easy installation into new and existing buildings, transparency to users, low operating cost, and an "advanced metering" capability for expansion into an integrated Building Management System (BMS).

The initial target market for the LESSTRICITY technology will be the industrial, commercial and public services sectors, which make up of nearly 52% of the UK electricity consumption with a year-on-year rise of approximately 4% and where incentives to monitor power use are high. A DEFRA report in 2004 showed that UK businesses wasted 30% of energy purchased and for many, a 20% cut in energy costs would represent a bottom-line benefit equivalent to a 5% increase in sales and rising given the price increase of £5-10/MWh annually.

A UK research project invested by The Technology Strategy Board