BUILDING optimisation company Arbnco has scooped a £641,000 government contract to help UK small businesses become more energy efficient.
The Glasgow firm will support phase two of the UK government’s innovation competition Boosting Access for SMEs to Energy Efficiency, allowing it to deploy a prototype platform for pilots in the Central Belt, the West Midlands and Wales.
Arbnco’s platform aims to simplify the process of engaging with energy efficiency by automatically optimising a business’ total energy consumption and the energy performance of its premises specifically.
The technology uses a range of data sources, such as energy consumption and building energy performance, to generate a bespoke list of physical and behavioural energy efficiency recommendations together with costs, trusted suppliers and finance options.
The latest project brings together expertise from multinational energy and services company Centrica, Energy Systems Catapult, Aston Business School, Durham County Council and sustainable finance company, Cyan Finance.
Arbnco’s Andrew Stewart said: “Bringing Centrica on board for phase two will provide greater insight and access to SMEs as we look to roll the platform out nationwide.
“By providing SMEs with critical insight into their energy use and tailored retrofit recommendations, based on an assessment of the energy performance of their building and patterns in their energy consumption, we can help thousands of businesses become more energy efficient.”
Phase two of the project commenced in February 2020 and runs for 14 months. Following completion in April 2021, the platform will be rolled out nationally.
