Pictured are: Environment Minister Alan Kelly, Eamon Conway, managing director climote and Paul Stapleton, general manager Electric Ireland The national rollout of the Smart Technology Energy Saving Scheme has been launched. The saving scheme will see 10,000 homes across Ireland fitted with a climote remote control heating system to enable families take full control of the energy used in their homes over the next 12 months. Delivered by home technology company climote, and funded by Electric Ireland, the scheme is a ground-breaking initiative which sees the collaboration of the public and private sectors in delivering an innovative energy-efficient scheme based on the use of smart technology. climote beat off competition from a number of other international connected home technology companies to secure the deal which will be run in partnership with Ireland’s largest energy supplier Electric Ireland. Local authority and housing association homes will be fitted with a climote which will allow homeowners to control their heating timings and temperature via a smartphone, text message or online. This technology has been proven to reduce energy consumption by an average of up to 20 per cent every year. "The real benefit for consumers and the government is that the entire scheme is funded by industry,” said Eamon Conway, managing director of climote. “The rollout of the national energy saving scheme will be carried out by the nationwide team of approved climote installers who will install the 10,000 climote hubs in local authority and housing association homes over the next 12 months. We have targeted local authority houses and housing associations so families can benefit from climote’s energy saving technology.” The scheme was launched by Environment Minister Alan Kelly in the home of one of the early recipients Trish Foran in Ballygraigue Estate, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. Kelly was joined by representatives from climote, Electric Ireland and Cluid Housing, the largest housing association in Ireland. One of the first to get involved in the scheme was Cluid Housing and it is expected that thousands of families across Ireland will benefit. “climote will offer greater control of the heating systems to our tenants, through both mobile and digital access. The controls are extremely easy to use, thus encouraging people to adjust the heating without the fear of being overcome with technology. This has proven to reduce energy use within the home as it is only used when needed, hence reducing the overall cost to the tenant and giving them an affordable and sustainable place to live,” said Brendan Cunningham, technical manager for Clúid Housing. A number of local authorities and housing associations including Laois County Council, Louth County Council, Kerry County Council, Mayo County Council and Cluid Housing, have already agreed to participate. climote is the brainchild of ex-Honeywell executive Eamon Conway and home technology innovator Derek Roddy, who provide a wealth of knowledge and experience in the smart heating space. The duo have created a company focused on innovation in the areas of energy and home technology. The climote device enables users to control their home heating and adjust the temperature from anywhere in the world, using smart technology.