IDEMIA is working with O2 to encourage British residents to adopt more sustainable energy habits. To that end, the two companies have now installed smart meters in 4 million homes in the UK, and are expecting that number to climb to 23 million in the next five years as they work to fulfill a government mandate that demands that every home have a smart meter by 2025.
The smart meters themselves are designed to give residents more insight into their energy usage, with in-home displays that show people their energy consumption in near-real time. The technology allows people to replace estimated billing practices with more accurate energy readings, and also gives people more control over their energy bill, since people have the opportunity to adjust their behavior once the meter starts to climb. In that regard, households with a smart meter have already reported an average savings of 10 percent per month.
The smart meters are built with the same IDEMIA Machine to Machine (M2M) SIM technology that gets used in standard handsets. However, the IDEMIA tech has been modified for smart meters to make sure it can withstand more rugged environments.
“IDEMIA has been working with O2 for many years and has a proven track record of both quality and supply of Machine to Machine (M2M) SIM based products,” said IDEMIA Mobile Operators EVP Fabien Jautard. “Our technology ensures the consumer can both monitor and report energy usage, making a great contribution towards a more sustainable lifestyle.”
The announcement reflects IDEMIA’s broader interest in green technology. The company recently launched a new Greenpay portfolio that provides eco-friendly solutions for the payments industry. It had already delivered cards made out of recycled PVC materials to BBVA and Treezor, and has since agreed to do the same for Nationwide Building Society.
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