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Reactor Institute Delft plans to save electricity

On Tuesday 8 September the Reactor Institute Delft will start installing Plugwise, a system of electricity saving plugs, in office spaces. The plugs measure the amount of electricity used by appliances such as computers and lighting used in offices. In addition the system can switch off appliances from a central location in order to prevent unnecessary electricity consumption. For the moment, Plugwise will only measure electricity use. At the end of September a decision will be taken as to whether the ‘switch function’ can be applied without consequences for normal work activities. The Plugwise experiment was initiated by the department of Facility Management and Real Estate and by the Delft Energy Initiative. It fits the ambition of the university to realize a sustainable campus.

On Tuesday 8 September the first Plugwise electricity saving plugs will be installed in office spaces at the Reactor Institute Delft. The plug measures the amount of electricity used by the appliance it is connected to very accurately. Together the plugs form a wireless (ZIGBEE) network which registers all data on a central computer. This computer can also switch on or of plugs at particular appliances to prevent unnecessary electricity consumption for example at night. In previous projects, the Plugwise saved up to 15% of energy in an office environment. “The electricity consumption at TU Delft increases by 4% every year. The Plugwise allows us to measure where the increase comes from and what measures to take to curb it,” says Chris Hellinga, a member of the TU Delft Energy on the Campus project, linked to the Delft Energy Initiative. Plugwise is in line with the university’s ambition to realize a sustainable campus. “Of course other measures are needed as well, such as insulation of buildings and the use of efficient, sustainable energy sources,” says Hellinga.


The Plugwise ‘switch function’ will not be applied just yet. First of all the amount of electricity used by each connected appliance will be measured. Members of staff at the RID can still get a cup of coffee or use the printers 24 hours a day. At the end of September it will be clear which appliances use unnecessary power. These appliances will then be switched on and of by the Plugwise system. The Plugwise will only be used for offices. Labs will not participate.

Release link: http://www.tudelft.nl/live/pagina.jsp?id=ca93f896-3e24-4dcd-8263-17faeec4423b&lang=en