Dancing on Ice star Max Evans swaps skates for ghillies to encourage Scots to get energy fit

Former Dancing on Ice contestant Max Evans swapped his skates for ghillies today in a demonstration of how smart meters can make your energy use completely visible.

The fitness enthusiast and former Scottish rugby star teamed up with three Highland dancers from Edinburgh Highland Dancing to take part in an 'energy-off' competition against four Scottish rugby players from Boroughmuir Rugby Club. Both teams had just three minutes to generate as much energy as possible on Pavegen tiles, which converted the contestants' kinetic energy to electrical energy and data. The Highland dancing team came out top, generating 2363 joules of electricity in comparison to the rugby team's 1816 joules.

Max has recently had a smart meter fitted by his energy supplier at no extra cost and is using it to monitor his energy use in the same way as his Fitbit allows him to track his heart rate, steps, calories burned and sleep quality. He took part in today's event to encourage any Scots who still have old-style energy meters to upgrade to a smart meter and get their household energy on track.

Max said:

"By competing today to see how much electricity our movements can generate, we demonstrated the visibility and control that smart meters bring to the way we use energy in our homes. They're basically like a fitness tracker for your household energy - they come with an in-home display which shows your energy use in pounds and pence and provides the perfect motivation to knock those bills into shape.

"Being able to see your energy use as you go also means you can make choices that will reduce energy waste, helping you to play your part in keeping the planet fit for the next generation. I was brought up in an environmentally-conscious household, so getting a smart meter was a no-brainer for me - it's an easy way for me to contribute towards a cleaner, greener, smarter country."

There are now over 730,000 households in Scotland with a smart meter. The latest installation figures also showed that residents of Glasgow are leading the way in the energy revolution, with 81,000 households in the Glasgow council area already experiencing the benefits of a smart meter.

Iagan MacNeil, Smart Energy GB, Scotland, said:

"We're here today to demonstrate that smart meters make energy visible and help us to get it under control. Many Scots have already embraced this new, modern way to manage energy and now it's time for everyone in the country to move on from the Victorian times and into the new era of smart energy management. Not only will smart meters benefit individuals by doing away with estimates and putting them in control of their gas and electricity use, but they are also a much-needed upgrade to Britain's energy system."

Contact your energy supplier about getting your smart meter at no extra cost.

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Notes to editors

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the campaign for a smarter Britain. It's our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to be cleaner and greener with their energy use. Our national campaign is reaching households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website smartenergyGB.org

About smart meters and the rollout

Smart meters replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They enable accurate bills, near real time information on energy use in pounds and pence, and greater control over the way we buy and use energy. The smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain's energy infrastructure.

There are already almost 12.8 million smart meters installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Every household in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered one at no extra cost. Contact your energy supplier about getting your smart meter.

Pavegen

Pavegen is the global leader in converting footfall into off-grid power and data. We supply both permanent installations and experiential activations and can power off-grid applications such as games, lighting, and environmental monitoring. Each footstep on a Pavegen walkway generates between 2 and 4 joules of off-grid electrical energy or up to 7 watts of power for the duration of the footstep.

www.pavegen.com @Pavegen

Smart Energy GB media contacts

For more information including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, infographics, photography and video content please contact the Smart Energy GB media team:

[email protected]; 0131322 6204