P12
DISTRICT HEATING FINANCING AND OWNERSHIP
FOCUS DIGITALI- SATION
By Alexander Philbrook, Managing Director ista UK
However, many questions still remain unanswered, such as: will the home of the future really be able to control everything from a light bulb to setting reminders about the school play? How much control will the householder have over their systems and personal data? Finally, will the appropriate systems be the preserve of the wealthy or can they be installed and operated cost-effectively, in particular for tenants in multi-occupancy buildings? SMART SUBMETERING ista is working today on key technologies for tomorrow’s digital world with the aim of making the world a fairer place for all consumers. We believe that the advance of digitisation in our everyday lives has provided a genuine opportunity for greater sustainability. However, the key questions of cost-effectiveness and data protection must be answered. For example, electricity consumption reveals precise details about our lifestyle and our personal habits. Smart electricity meters are part of a critical infrastructure and need to be secure and reliable. Their integration, in particular into a residential building, is therefore considerably more sensitive and complex.
From Twitter to online tax returns, we can all see how the inexorable advance of digitisation is changing both our daily lives and our views on the world. But while technology and industry develop apace, our planet’s natural resources are being put under increasing pressure which has led to the promotion of sustainability across society. So digital solutions can be used to save and protect essential resources such as electricity, gas or water. Consumption transparency plays a crucial role in sustainability. Greater knowledge changes behaviour and this is particularly true when it comes to energy consumption. SMARTER VISION Science fictions films have provided us with many differing visions for the world of tomorrow. After driving home from work in your flying car, your front door opens when it automatically recognises your face, and the oven is cooking your favourite meal, while the fridge has just ordered the weekly shopping from the local supermarket. In reality, devices such as the smartphone and Amazon Alexa now give people the ability to control everything from the room surveillance system and room temperature to the energy management system of their electric car, which is charging up in front of their house.
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