VPhase News RSS Feed 0d8b328b-20b9-42c9-aa83-51a279dfd3b9 <![CDATA[VPhase announce new products]]>
The new voltage optimisation devices offer installers increased added value, as they’re quicker and easier to install than the existing unit. They also offer greater flexibility, in that they are modular units that can be installed directly in between the meter and the consumer unit, or can have selected circuits passed through to only optimise relevant circuits within a home.

As the VX5 is higher rated, it will also appeal to small commercial, office and light industrial businesses – especially those with a high concentration of lighting and refrigeration, from which the greatest savings can typically be achieved with voltage optimisation.

The new units are likely to appeal strongly to both the retrofit and new build markets, as their modularity also allows for the inclusion of integrated 6 way or 16 way distribution boards – a first in this sector.

Sales of the VX1 increased by 65% in 2011 as voltage optimisation technology becomes more readily accepted. With typical installations saving up to 12% off annual electricity bills, whilst also reducing carbon emissions by c4.5 tonnes over the product’s 25+ year lifespan there is increasing demand for this technology in both public and private sector housing throughout the UK.
]]> Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT f268cc09-284e-4be0-bf19-e74a68f8de33 <![CDATA[VPhase supported by Carbon Trust’s Entrepreneurs Fast Track]]>
Less than 10% of applications from companies to the Entrepreneurs Fast Track have been accepted, putting VPhase into the top tier of low carbon enterprises in the UK.

An assessment by the Carbon Trust identified VPhase as having a strong core technology that could deliver significant carbon savings if deployed at scale. The Entrepreneurs Fast Track has been providing support on intellectual property and commercial strategy to enable VPhase’s technology to be widely commercialised in order to deliver these carbon savings.

Rick Smith, CEO of VPhase commented: “VPhase is a unique product, offering the householder up to 12% savings off their electricity bills each year, with no change in lifestyle. We are delighted to have gained recognition from the Carbon Trust Entrepreneurs Fast Track of our potential to deliver significant carbon savings. The programme’s support in ensuring that the product reaches more of the right markets in the most effective way will be invaluable to helping us grow the business and enable consumers to reduce electricity bills when energy prices are increasing.”

“Less than 10% of the companies that apply to the Entrepreneurs Fast Track are accepted onto the scheme and the Board is therefore delighted with this achievement amongst our peers in terms of low carbon enterprises in the UK.”

David Aitken, Technology Commercialisation Manager at Carbon Trust, said:

“The VPhase voltage optimisation technology could tap into the huge homeowner market offering substantial savings on electricity bills. We’ve been helping the company to best align its commercial strategy and protect its IP. A successful uptake of the technology will lead to significant domestic carbon savings.”
]]> Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT 5e76a071-9f4d-436e-8451-11a4cfaee317 <![CDATA[VPhase commended in Rushlight Awards]]> The multi-award winning energy efficiency company VPhase, has been further commended for its domestic voltage optimisation technology in the Rushlight Awards 2011. The technology is being increasingly specified in domestic installations in both the public and private sectors, with particular interest from the social housing market where fuel poverty and the impact of energy price rises are felt most keenly.

The awards were celebrated in a lavish gala dinner on the 1st February 2012 at Church House Conference Centre, London with the Labour Peer, Baroness Worthington as a guest speaker. It was a superb event where the large number of CEOs, directors and technology heads of leading clean technology companies in the UK and Ireland gathered to see who would win the coveted Rushlight Awards, joined by their advisers and investors.

VPhase were commended in the Energy Reduction category for their entry, and in the Energy Environmental Group Award too. The company’s maintenance free voltage optimisation technology, which has been proven to save up to 12% off electricity bills, was among a handful of other respected energy efficiency companies who were also commended on the night, including: Kingspan and C-Tech Innovation.

This commendation joins the announcement from the end of 2011 that VPhase had again been awarded a “Top Products” status by Professional Electrician & Installer, as well as numerous other awards throughout the year from Shell Springboard, the North West Business Masters and GE Ecomagination.
]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2d550748-f55b-4fe5-93d7-8500106d13d7 <![CDATA[Christmas opening times at VPhase]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT 0ade86e1-7a30-4742-bd3b-ffc6274f6d96 <![CDATA[VPhase launch training video]]>
The VPhase training video provides explanations of the technology, practical installation advice and a handy technical Q & A. At just under half an hour in length, it’s accessible enough that electricians can choose when and how they want to watch this, without taking too much time out of their working day.

“The training seminars that we run throughout the UK have proved to be increasingly popular, yet there’s a physical limit on how many installers we can speak to and how many locations we can visit,” says Matt Cody, Head of Marketing at VPhase. “By providing an online digital training video, installers can choose a convenient time and place to get the info they need”.

The VPhase training video is available from the 1st December on the company’s web site, on its YouTube channel and on its Facebook page.
]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT 924a419f-0c80-446a-a0d9-c9449d810c3f <![CDATA[VPhase join the UK Green Building Council]]>
“VPhase is actively involved with a number of leading social housing organisations throughout the UK,” says Rick Smith CEO at VPhase. “We’re a principal corporate sponsor of SHIFT and the top rated voltage optimisation supplier in the PfH framework agreement. Membership of the UK Green Building Council provides us with additional opportunities to talk about our proven technology and influence key policy makers”.

The UK Green Building Council is a membership organisation that campaigns for a sustainable built environment, one which benefits people, business and the planet. UK-GBC works with policy-makers and industry to overcome barriers to sustainability in the sector. VPhase firmly believes domestic voltage optimisation has a key role to play in meeting these goals.
]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT 82d0f6ae-942a-4747-9c4d-f49e1f84a2a1 <![CDATA[VPhase finalists in Electrical Industry Awards 2011]]>
The two categories that VPhase have been entered for are: Best Marketing Campaign – for the company’s expansive use of social networking and new media channels; and for Most Innovative Domestic / Residential Product of the Year – which the company actually won in 2010.

The company has been responsible for almost singlehandedly creating the domestic voltage optimisation category in the UK, with its first-to-market product and the only true domestic voltage optimisation device that not only reduces the voltage but stabilises the output too.
]]> Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT 2cf016bf-5fac-4889-9688-27705a50b3ee <![CDATA[VPhase shown off in new Sustainable Blacon Eco House]]> Sustainable Blacon hosted an open house event recently, where they demonstrated a range of technologies in their new eco-home in Stamford Road, Blacon, Chester. In amongst the various green technologies in the house was a VPhase voltage optimisation device, which lowers and regulates the voltage in the home, reducing electricity bills by up to 12%.
The Sustainable Blacon property has been significant upgraded with major funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and Cheshire West and Chester Council. It is another asset to employ in their campaign that aims to demonstrate a wide range of energy saving features, many of which are not only innovative, but which are practical and accessible to most households.
 
“It’s an important demonstration for VPhase, being able to show clearly how the device works in a complementary manner to other green tech”, explains Matt Cody, head of marketing at VPhase. “Helping people understand that voltage optimisation is not only a low cost, proven technology but that it will also save them money too, is an essential activity for us”.
 
As tests have demonstrated, after insulation, voltage optimisation is the next most effective and affordable green measure for the home; and as any qualified electrician can fit one – it really is a case of fit and forget, saving instantly.
Ged Edwards Chief Executive of Sustainable Blacon said, “We are delighted to support vPhase as a leading low carbon technology supplier. The Eco House provides an ideal opportunity for such companies to demonstrate technologies which are suitable for the domestic setting and interact with the public and potential suppliers in a natural environment. We hope others can follow their leading example.”
 
Other technologies on display in the eco home included solar PV, LED lighting, recycling facilities and even a wormery!
 
- Ends -
 
Notes to editors

For more information about Sustainable Blacon, please visit www.sustainableblacon.org.uk, or call 01244 380 150
For more information about VPhase, please visit www.vphase.co.uk, or call 0151 348 2108
 
About VPhase

VPhase plc is an energy efficiency technology company that launched the first domestic voltage optimisation device in the UK. The VPhase VX1 lowers the voltage in the home, reducing the energy consumption of many electrical appliances, saving money and reducing carbon emissions.
 
The VPhase device:
  • has been proven to save up to 12% off home electricity bills;
  • is easily installed by a qualified electrician;
  • does not require a change in lifestyle or electricity supplier;
  • is low cost, with a typical payback of under 5 years;
  • has a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty and an expected lifespan in excess of 25 years;
  • can save up to 4.5 tonnes of CO2 over its 25+ year life;
  • attaches to the consumer unit (fuse box) and regulates the voltage to 220 volts;
  • is the next most affordable and effective green option for the home, after insulation.
The VPhase VX1 has been extensively tested with independent verification supporting the saving claims, including an Ofgem approved CERT demonstration action, social housing trials and a range of independent consumer trials. Many electrical appliances in the home will benefit from having their voltage optimised and reduced, including fridges, freezers, central heating pumps, televisions, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc. – and even ‘energy-saving’ light bulbs. As well as potentially saving up to £135 per annum, there is evidence that the life of electrical appliances can be extended by the use of this product; light bulbs in particular, have demonstrated at least a doubling of operating life when on a voltage optimised circuit.
 
Web: www.vphase.co.uk
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/cUBnek
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vphase
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/qqbyYS
YouTube: www.youtube.com/vphase
 
]]> Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT 9ef7f259-e14e-4d87-8a5a-4fbaf4e5d7e8 <![CDATA[ VPhase now specified in all rewires and new builds]]> Following on from a successful trial of the VPhase voltage optimisation device in 2010, Great Places Housing Group has announced that future rewires and new builds will now have the VPhase specified in. Great Places is a housing association that provides over 15,000 high-quality homes in 30 council areas across the North West and beyond.

The trial that took place in 2010 demonstrated average electrical energy savings of 8.7% and average yearly CO2 savings of 183kg. In the terraced houses in which the device was trialled this was an estimated 3.6% reduction in the average whole house CO2 emissions, representing a significant proportion of social housing CO2 targets.

At the time of the trial, Matthew Harrison, deputy chief executive and director of development at Great Places Housing Group commented, “These results are very encouraging and we will now look at the viability of installing VPhase units in more of our houses.”

As a leading housing association, Great Places is delivering an ambitious programme of regeneration and urban renewal. Great Places works hard to be green and is committed to constantly improving its sustainability levels wherever possible. The VPhase therefore represents an effective, low cost and proven tool to prevent energy waste, lower tenant’s electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Rick Smith, CEO at VPhase commented, “Working with Great Places Housing Group is a significant step forward for VPhase; pleasingly we’re able to demonstrate a successful trial now progressing to widespread specification in all new builds and rewires.”

VPhase has also signed up as a principle sponsor of SHIFT (Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow), the only organisation to provide a comprehensive environmental benchmark for affordable housing providers – where Great Places Housing Group is already one of the 40 members.

Visit www.vphase.co.uk or call 0845 003 8222 for more details.
]]> Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT 8becb088-056f-4762-85a4-e009e536ac34 <![CDATA[Which? and VPhase]]>
It is our position that Which? failed to test the VPhase against the appliances in the home that not only use the most electricity, but also that can save the most from having their voltage optimised, such as fridges, freezers, central heating pumps, TVs and computers.

The test also seems to have failed to take into account that the product is hard-wired into the fabric of the building and therefore does not require any change in lifestyle or behaviour by the home owner.

With the extensive testing we have conducted with Ofgem and other organisations we remain very confident about our savings claims. The VPhase is designed for a life of at least 25 years, and we consider a period of 3 to 5 years for the product to pay for itself to be reasonable, particularly in light of current increases in electricity prices.

The product comes with a 5 year warranty so that there is no risk to the home owner of the product not working within this 3 to 5 year period.

In the context of other energy saving technologies, such as solar PV systems, loft insulation, or heat pumps – the payback periods and energy savings are very competitive.

As a company we are committed to providing to home owners what we believe is one of the greenest energy saving devices on the market at this price point.

If you have any questions about the Which? article or wish to discuss any of the above issues with us any further, please do not hesitate to telephone Matt Cody on 0151 348 2108.
]]> Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT