carbonTrack interfaces with conventional electrical hot water geysers, renewable energy devices such as solar water heating geysers, heat pumps and track solar panel energy generation. In this way, the platform allows business and homeowners to take advantage of direct savings by better monitoring and controlling their energy consumption in real time. The interface is simple and easy to understand; savings are transparent and understandable. Under certain conditions, energy savings in the residential sector have peaked at 40% of the energy bill.
According to carbonTrackSA's CEO, Irvan Damon, the decision to manufacture locally marks the completion of a three-year process to attune the smart platform to the local environment, and highlights the firm's commitment to South Africa and the continent.
Damon, a local supporter of the Internet of Things, said that, possibly more than anywhere else in the world, electricity grids in Africa are under enormous pressure and the lack of supply has severe repercussions across many residential and business sectors, including manufacturing, distribution and retail.
"The Internet of Things (IoTs) - or as I would prefer - the Internet of Green Things (IoGTS), refers to a network of connected machines or appliances embedded with sensors, digitally communicating bytes of information across the Internet to devices like your smart phone, tablet or desktop," he said.
"Technology experts, such as Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), predict that by 2020 the number of devices on the planet will fast approach 50 billion - seven for every person. These intelligent devices will accelerate lifestyle improvements, business efficiencies, household safety, health-care innovations and could have a profound ability to change the way we deal with climate change. carbonTrack is firmly embedded into the IoT economy.
"For example, in the cold and hot chain sector in Australia, the technology has been used to track critical temperatures and protect assets. In South Africa, this sector generates almost 10% of our GDP.
"In South Africa, with its spiralling electricity tariffs representing an increasingly important cost centre for consumers, monitoring and switching energy loads, flow and temperature real time is an urgent requirement. Embracing IoGT technologies like the carbonTrack platform will allow us as a nation to control factory floors more effectively, utilities and traffic flow as well as our precious natural resources.
"Furthermore, the South African insurance sector replaces 250 000 electrical geysers every year. carbonTrack's pre-emptive alerts will reduce the resultant damage caused by faulty geysers, reducing direct costs to the insurers and premium increases for policy holders," he said.
Leading up to the appointment of a local manufacturing partner, CarbonTrack SA piloted extensively amongst residential to commercial entities as well as power utility, Eskom. These included leading banking institutions, Samsung, South Africa's national mobile operators, Higherground Restaurant, Kong Restaurant, and certain insurance houses. Aquarius Underwriting Managers (now incorporated into Hollard).
Having recently been endorsed by the Eskom rebate programme, the locally manufactured units have complied with all local and international performance and safety tests:
They've also garnered the SABS mark of approval and are a member of Proudly South African, while the manufacturing partner has more than 20 years' experience in the sector and is ISO 9001 compliant.
