Onzo

Onzo, the global designer of domestic energy management systems, has been honoured with a coveted product design award from the internationally respected  ‘red dot’ organization for its flagship product, the Onzo Smart Energy Kit.

An international jury of design experts examine and test the products submitted for the annual red dot design awards, and assess them according to criteria such as degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, longevity, ecological compatibility and clarity of function.  This year a total of 3,231 products, from companies in 49 countries, were scrutinised.

Commenting on the achievement, Onzo Chief Executive Joel Hagan said, Winning a red dot award sends a clear signal to the global market that we have succeeded in meeting the design challenge of changing how people will interact with energy in the home, proving them with the understanding to allow them to lower consumption, expenditure and carbon output, and reduce the impact on the grid at peak times.

Some of the key features that helped Onzo to stand out include the handheld, portable display and the sensor.    The display can be located anywhere in the home, from the fridge to the coffee table, and receives data wirelessly from the sensor, which assesses the energy usage profile of the home.  The sensor fits easily to a cable running from the electricity meter using a unique clamp design, and harvests energy from the cable, thus ensuring that in normal circumstances there should be no need to recharge or replace the batteries.

The  display presents useful and actionable information, not just data. Onzo’s unique EnergyToolsTM help people to understand their home’s electricity use at a glance. Uploading data via USB from the display allows the supporting web service to translate it into graphical visualisations of electricity use that will inspire positive behaviour change.

Neil Tierney, Onzo’s R&D Director added, Increasingly, a product is defined not only by its physical appearance.  You have to combine technology and design talent with commercial mastery to develop innovative, market-leading solutions.

Presentation of the 2009 red dot awards will take place on 29th June in the Essen Opera House, the Aalto Theatre.

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Notes for Editors

About the red dot design award

Today, the red dot design award, the origins of which go back to 1955, is the largest and most renowned design competition worldwide. It consists of the individual disciplines red dot award: product design, red dot award: communication design, and red dot award: design concept. In 2008 the competition recorded around 11,000 entries from 61 nations in total.

For further information please visit the red dot website

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