Logicor, a Wakefield based company, has joined forces with Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) and market research company, Shape the Future, to conduct research into how to reduce carbon emissions and save money on energy bills in local households across the Wakefield area.
Logicor has commenced trialling its ‘Green Plug' that incorporates a timed-off function to cut the electricity flow to various household devices.
The patented air-driven device means that households can be sure that the Green Plug and any connected appliances consume zero electricity when switched off, reducing wasted energy use around the home. This wasted energy is not only made up of standby usage, but also of electricity that is used accidentally when, for example, an iron is left on or items are kept charging over night.
The premise of the Logicor range of devices is that unintended energy consumption can be prevented by using a delayed-off function for all electrical appliances.
In an extensive trial the Green Plug will be tested in conjunction with nine appliances that have been chosen especially. These include: irons, hair-care appliances (for example, hair straighteners and curling tongs), portable heaters, table lamps, microwave ovens, lap-tops, phone chargers, electric cookers and immersion heaters. The trial will be held in seventy homes, evaluated over an eight week period and is due to end in September 2010.
Use of the Green Plug enables households not only to reduce their carbon footprint by saving energy but also cuts energy bills and reduces fire risks. Based on the results of a survey commissioned by Logicor, Professor Martin Crowder of Imperial College London showed that wasted energy is costing UK households an average of £365 per year. The research focused around 18 everyday home appliances, including kettles, computers and immersion heaters, the latter costing the average respondent over £178 per annum in wasted energy consumption.
Owen Daggett, Energy Efficiency Manager for WDH, said: "We are happy to be participating in this trial and have worked closely with Logicor to ensure that any changes in consumption that emerge from the trial are due to the plug, and not just down to respondents simply participating in the trial. As part of this we have together developed a system of managed information flow, between us at WDH and Logicor. The trial shows how committed we are to ensuring that emissions are lowered from housing in the region."
David Bowen, Managing Director of Logicor said: ‘Our Green Plug's automatic timed-off function has replaced the need for a person to switch off appliances, meaning that the plug is a reliable and sure way of reducing costs and energy consumption for our households. It has been a pleasure to work with WDH in the run-up to the trial and I hope that we will have the results in time for households to see the benefits of using Green Plugs as we approach the winter months."
For more information, please contact: Jamie Pinkham, 020 7930 8033, jamiepinkham@newcenturymedia.co.uk
About the Green Plug
1. Green Plug was launched in November 2009 and is protected by worldwide Patents Pending along with registered designs and trademarks. Full British Safety Standards approval has also been granted for the Green Plug.
2. Each Green Plug has an integrated air-driven timer function that switches off the power supply completely and automatically after a predetermined duration. Because it is air-driven you can be sure that the Green Plug and any connected appliances consume zero electricity when switched off.
3. Complimentary products in the range include the Green Wall Socket, Adaptor and Cone.
About Logicor Ltd
1. Logicor specialises in the supply or creation of patents across a wide range of industry sectors. Logicor is an established R&D company whose solutions to problems often result in the creation of companies with independent funding and workforces to take those ideas into the market place e.g. irons, heating, lighting products.
2. Vivien Wishart founded the company in 2004 and between her and the company's managing director over the last five years they developed 31 ideas, most of which are now patented throughout the world.
3. Logicor has five subsidiaries in the UK and employs 20 people. There a six directors including Vivien Wishart and David Bowen. 19 investors have supported the company since 2004 and continue to do so.
For more information, please go to: www.logicor.co.uk