Smart Energy GB publishes REAL Ratio

 

Smart Energy GB, the voice of the smart meter rollout, has today published the REAL Ratio, a framework designed to ensure that people are always at the heart of the policy that is shaping smart cities.

REAL stands for Resilience, Efficiency, Affordability and Liveability, identified as four key features of a truly smart city. The REAL Ratio has been developed by Smart Energy GB and is designed to be used by local authorities, central government and other policy makers, as a way to assess a city’s approach to delivering smart projects.

Smart city initiatives are rapidly being set up across the globe, from automated lighting systems, to train tickets, energy demand side response and traffic modelling. The publication of the REAL Ratio highlights the importance of ensuring that new smart infrastructure developments are relevant to the lives of local residents.

The smart meter rollout is one of the most significant infrastructure projects of this generation. More than 53 million smart meters are being installed across Britain, helping households to get their gas and electricity under control. The rollout means that smart energy could, in future, be a vital component of smart city projects across the country.

Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB, said: “For our cities to be truly smart, systems need to be designed around the way people live their lives, not what policymakers want to impose. REAL can be applied to ensure smart infrastructure is designed in a way that is relevant to people’s lives.

“The digital revolution taking place in energy shows that when smart infrastructure is developed in a way that does respond to every day needs you can build a platform for meaningful engagement and behaviour change.”

The REAL Ratio was launched at an event hosted by the Institution for Civil Engineers and Smart Energy GB yesterday.

Professor Tim Broyd, President of the Institute for Civil Engineers said:

 “City leaders and infrastructure providers recognise that while technology can make our cities more resilient, efficient, affordable and liveable, empowering citizens to exploit this new environment is paramount to a successful transformation.”

 

 

 

-ENDS-

 

Notes to editors

A full version of the REAL Ratio is available here.

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to get their gas and electricity under control. Our national campaign is reaching all households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit this page.

 

About smart meters and the rollout

Smart meters will replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They will provide consumers with accurate bills, near real time information on energy usage in pounds and pence, and greater control over their gas and electricity. The smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain’s energy infrastructure. Between now and 2020, everyone across England, Scotland and Wales will be offered a smart meter by their energy supplier at no extra cost. Almost 5 million smart meters have already been installed across Great Britain. To find out how you can get a smart meter contact your energy supplier. 

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:

Smart Energy GB:

Lucy Maggs: [email protected]; 0203 019 1054 / 07747 690 432

Michael Tighe: [email protected]; 0203 019 1055/07753 221 796

Janqui Mehta: [email protected]; 0203 019 1063/07715 665 112