Onzo

Onzo, the global designer of domestic energy management systems, today announces that it has joined the Silver Spring Networks‘ Technology Alliance Partner programme. As a Technology Alliance Partner, Onzo will work closely with Silver Spring Networks, the leading provider of smart grid networking technology and services, to develop products that empower consumers to manage their energy usage.

Onzo offers consumers a way to measure and monitor their energy consumption.  Onzo’s first product, to be launched in mid-year 2009, includes an energy display and an intelligent web portal that will allow consumers to reduce consumption, lower their bills and cut carbon emissions.  Silver Spring Networks’ Smart Energy Network allows for the secure and reliable transmission of the data that powers Onzo’s advanced energy management systems.

Onzo is pleased to be partnering with Silver Spring Networks.  Consumers will play a pivotal role in solving global energy issues by understanding and changing how they use power, said Ben Pirt, Chief Technology Officer for Onzo. Silver Spring Networks’ ZigBee-enabled home area networking technology allows Onzo to interface with a secure, reliable, responsive network to deliver the energy management tools of the future.

Silver Spring Networks launched their Technology Alliance Partner programme in April 2008 to bring together companies offering market-leading products and applications that complement Silver Spring Networks’ Smart Energy Network, allowing utilities to deliver the full promise of the smart grid.  Silver Spring Networks’ partnerships with these industry-leading vendors provide utilities with a choice of best-of-breed solutions in a variety of smart grid categories, all implemented on an open, last mile network based on end-to-end use of standard Internet Protocol-based technology.

We are delighted to have Onzo as a partner in our Technology Alliance programme, said Silver Spring Networks’ Executive Vice President, John O’Farrell. Onzo’s advanced and innovative energy management systems are being designed to convert data transmitted via the Smart Energy Network into a consumer-friendly context, making the benefits of the smart grid real.

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About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks has created the technology, software and services to enable utilities to transmit and receive information from any point on the grid – also known as the Smart Grid.  The Company’s unique technology enables its customers to enhance the reliability and quality of their services while at the same time giving them the potential to utilise their scarce power generating capacity better, reduce carbon emissions and improve operating efficiency. The Company’s technology, systems and services are based on the Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

Silver Spring Networks was named a Technology Pioneer at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was included in the 2008 Red Herring 100 and the 2008 AlwaysOn Global 250, and was a recipient of the GoingGreen and Brilliant Innovation Awards in 2007.

Onzo enquiries

Emily Feltham, emily.feltham@yourmandate.com, +44 (0)20 3128 8122
Nicole Martin, nicole.martin@yourmandate.com, +44 (0)20 3128 8172

Onzo, the global designer of domestic energy management systems, today reveals the images of the hardware components of its smart energy kit; the display and sensor.  These will provide consumers with an unprecedentedly wide range of compelling information to help them understand and manage their energy use.  The sensor measures and stores data on household energy use, and securely transmits this wirelessly to the in-home display.

Commenting on the release of the images, Joel Hagan, Chief Executive of Onzo said:  “We are delighted we can now share the appearance of our first products.  Their combination of usefulness, ease of installation and attractive design make them unique.  They will have a lasting place in the home and for the first time will really put people in charge of their energy use”.

The Onzo display breaks new ground by being designed from the outset with the needs of the user in mind.  Every interaction is designed to be easy, engaging and useful. Its innovative features include:
•    Versatile positioning, with a reversible back that will enable it to be free-standing, attached to a refrigerator or hung from a    wall;
•    A clear, simple display showing the most useful, actionable information;
•    Intelligent EnergyTools with eye-catching symbols;
•    A soft rubber surround to make the device tactile and increase its sturdiness;
•    Easily rechargeable batteries.

The Onzo sensor clips to one of the cables coming from the electricity meter.  It is designed for easy installation by the user.  The sensor is pioneering in many ways:
•    It “harvests” its power from the cable to which it is attached, removing the need ever to replace its batteries;
•    It operates on ultra low power – costing less than a penny for a years’ operation;
•    It stores up to 10 years’ data;
•    It provides highly accurate measurement of energy consumption.

The display is supplied with a USB cable for connection to a home computer, enabling users to access intelligent web-based services.

Both the display and the sensor can be recycled at the end of their useful lives.  They come in compact packaging that will fit through the vast majority of domestic letter-boxes, so maximizing the rate of take-up and reducing the environmental impact of their distribution.

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