Electrical appliances manufacturer Domia is set to launch a new version of its energy saving Bye Bye Standby device, boasting enhanced security designed to make it more suited for office use.

Launched earlier this year, the original Bye Bye Standby plug-in device was aimed at consumers and allowed users to turn off always-on appliances such as TVs, monitors and DVD players at the wall using a wireless remote control.

Sarah Frankel, marketing manager for Bye Bye Standby, said the new version – which will be unveiled at the E2 Energy Solutions Expo in London tomorrow – would similarly allow office workers to turn off appliances such as printers and monitors, as well as larger appliances such as coffee machines and water coolers where it is often difficult to switch off the power.

She added that the new device also boasted improved security, designed to ensure only the assigned remote control could be used to turn appliances on and off.

Domia claims that with The Carbon Trust estimating that firms could cut their office equipment running costs by 60 per cent by turning off appliances when not in use, the new Bye Bye Standby technology can help slash carbon emissions and save firms an average of £32 per employee per year on their energy bills.

The company said that it has already seen considerable interest for the new Office Edition, which will be available from £49.99 for four sockets and a remote control.

Frankel admitted that despite the security improvements the device was still best suited for small- and medium-sized offices and lacked the sophistication required by larger firms.

However, she added that the company was currently working on a range of more advanced office energy management solutions that were scheduled to be launched in the next few months.

"We are working on new solutions that can monitor energy use throughout the office and make the information available over the internet," she said. "We're also working on functionality that will allow users to automatically turn off devices using the software solution."

The new products are likely to take Domia into direct competition with established PC power management software providers such as 1E and Verdiem.

Posted by James Murray on October 9, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Marks & Spencer last week became the latest supermarket to tout its green credentials with the opening of its first "eco" store in Bournemouth.

The store, which is the first of four planned pilot stores to be re-fitted as part of the company’s high-profile £200m Plan A environmental sustainability initiative, will be powered using electricity from renewable sources and is expected to deliver energy savings of 25 per cent compared with before the refit.

The company said that overall carbon emissions at the 51,000 square foot store had been slashed by 92 per cent as a result of its green energy procurement policy and the installation of more energy efficient refrigerator, air con and lighting technologies.

It added that the deployment of new water saving technologies, such as dual flush toilets, would cut the store's water use by 15 per cent, while new construction policies had allowed 80 per cent of waste generated during the refit to be recycled or reused.

Furthermore, the store is to pioneer a new green travel plan for suppliers, staff and customers, including the provision of cycle racks and a notice board to highlight green travel opportunities.

The move was welcomed by Dax Lovegrove, head of business and industry relations at environmental charity WWF, which has been working with M&S on its Plan A initiative. "It's clear that M&S is tackling some of the toughest 'eco' challenges facing retailers," he said. "[For example], it is reducing green house gas emissions by using different types of fridges and encouraging alternative ways in which customers travel to and from stores."

The launch comes as rival retailer Sainsbury's last week announced it was to move its headquarters to a new green building development in Kings Cross, in a move designed to cut its energy bills and carbon emissions.

Posted by James Murray on October 8, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sainsbury's yesterday announced it is to relocate its central London HQ from Holborn to the new King's Cross Central development as part of a move designed to slash its carbon footprint.

Planned for early 2011, the new office will significantly reduce Sainsbury’s office costs and give the company free reign to incorporate a wide range of green technologies into its headquarters.

Roof-mounted wind turbines, photovoltaic solar panels, ground source heat pumps, combined heat and power energy generation systems, and solar thermal systems for heating water will all feature in the new development. When combined, the company said that these measures are likely to cut site carbon emissions by 40 percent compared with similar-sized facilities.

Chief executive Justin King said that the company had been attracted to the site by its "outstanding environmental credentials", adding that the move would deliver both improved energy efficiency and cost savings to the business.

A spokeswoman for the company added that the new headquarters formed part of on-going campaign to limit the supermarket's environmental impact.

She said that all various green technologies planned for the new site had already been trialled or installed at its existing stores and said that the company would also work with Kings Cross Central developer Argent to open a new supermarket on the site that will similarly embrace environmental best practices.

Posted by James Murray on October 5, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (0)