NEA launches new mobile apps and encourages co-creation of environmental solutions
Singapore, 20 April 2012 – Members of the public will now be able to better monitor their energy consumption and adjust their usage to save energy and money. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has developed two new mobile applications (apps) – “NEA Energy Audit” and “Life Cycle Cost Calculator” – to help the public track energy consumption and calculate the overall energy costs over an appliance’s lifespan. In addition, an Android version of NEA’s popular “myENV” has also been released.
These new apps were launched at today’s Youth for the Environment Day at Dunman High School, graced by Guest of Honour – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources.
These efforts aim to use technology to enhance NEA’s public outreach by sharing environmental information on mobile and social media platforms. By leveraging technology to keep the public informed, they can be empowered to practise good environmental habits. For instance, the new energy efficiency apps will help people save on energy consumption and money. Members of the public can also contribute positively to the environment by reducing energy usage, thereby helping to mitigate climate change.
App Solutions To Save Energy
Households can play their part to reduce greenhouse gases and fight climate change when they conserve energy. The “NEA Energy Audit” mobile app allows households to find out which appliances are the top energy users at home and estimate the monthly energy costs incurred by each appliance. Households buying new energy-intensive appliances such as air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers can also use the “Life Cycle Cost Calculator” app, also developed by NEA, to estimate the overall costs that different models are likely to incur over the appliance lifespan. Tracking such overall costs is important as the energy costs incurred can be many times of its purchase price (See Annexes A & B for details and screenshots).
“myENV” Android Version
Together with the new energy efficiency apps, an Android version of NEA’s popular myENV has also been released. Rolled out in July 2011, NEA’s myENV iPhone application has generated about 68,000 downloads thus far. Users are able to obtain updates on air quality, weather information, as well as dengue clusters. They can also provide feedback to NEA on any environmental lapses.
Android users can now download “myENV” from the Android market and receive these latest environmental news updates and information for free.
The “NEA Energy Audit” and “Life Cycle Cost Calculator” are currently available on iPhone, and can be downloaded from the App Store for free. In the future, the applications may be extended to other platforms such as Android and iPad.
Members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions on the applications by emailing nea_contact@nea.gov.sg, or calling 1800-225-5632.
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For more information, please contact
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632)
Email: Contact_NEA@nea.gov.sg
ANNEX A
FACTSHEET: NEA ENERGY AUDIT APPLICATION
The “NEA Energy Audit” app gives an estimated energy use breakdown of the home by appliance, by room, and also identifies the more energy-intensive appliances in the home. It also provides users with energy-saving tips which they can practise, as well as better manage their energy consumption and save cost.
The application provides the energy consumption of typical home appliances such as air-conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, washing machines, clothes dryers, light bulbs, air-pots, televisions and computers based on usage. The application allows users to identify the main energy guzzlers in their homes and provides tips on how the energy use of these appliances can be better managed.
Features
• Provides households with an estimation of energy consumption of home appliances and identifies the main energy guzzlers based on typical power ratings and the number of hours used. The results are presented in the following format:
o Energy usage breakdown by appliance in pie chart format
o Energy usage breakdown by room in pie chart format
o Top 3 energy-using appliances in graphic format
• Informs users what type of energy user they are (e.g. “energy guzzler” or “lean and green”) based on the average energy consumption of households living in the specific house type.
• Provides users with energy-saving tips which they can practise at home
• Allows users to share tips on how energy can be saved through social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Screenshots of the NEA Energy Audit Application
ANNEX B
FACTSHEET: LIFE CYCLE COST CALCULATOR APPLICATION
Energy-efficient appliances may have a higher purchase price than less efficient ones However, they generally have lower life cycle costs due to the lower electricity costs over their lifespan. The “Life Cycle Cost Calculator” app aims to help potential buyers compare the life cycle costs of different models of refrigerators, air-conditioners and clothes dryers to help the public make well-informed purchasing decisions.
The electricity cost over the lifespan of the appliance could be several times the purchase price of the appliance. While energy efficient models may have a higher purchase price than less efficient ones, they tend to have lower life cycle costs due to the lower electricity costs over their lifespan.
• The life cycle cost of an appliance is given by:
Features
• Calculates the life cycle cost of different models of refrigerators, air-conditioners and clothes dryers based on the appliance model, the purchase price of the model and usage pattern by the users.
• Displays the life cycle costs of different models of refrigerators, air-conditioners and clothes dryers in a chart for easy comparison.
• Provides users with tips for buying energy-saving air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers.
• Provides users with energy-saving tips which they can practise at home for a range of household appliances.
Screenshots of the Life Cycle Cost Calculator Application