T4L: Hybrid Hit Home

The three-day spectacle was an assault on the senses.  Everywhere you turned, there was something to look at, hear, touch or taste at the clearly successful Jamaica Expo.

The tiny but tallawah Amber Connect device was great.  The potentially transformational JUTC Smarter Card was encouraging.  But, Kelly Tomlin’s personal car parked perched on a platform the centre of the arena for the JPS booth was, without a doubt, the most ogle-worthy display at Expo.

Yes, her personal car.  A shiny Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV hybrid ramped yup the previously muted discussion on the viability and practically of electrics cars on local roadways.

By all reviews and Tomlin’s own, the car is more than adequate to the task of navigating our notorious potholes and hilly interior.  The 2L 16 valve in-line 4-cylinder engine pushes the SUV from zero to 62 mph in a comfortable 11 seconds.

The vehicle charges overnight in a special outlet which, I am told, is easy to install.  JPS has indicated that they plan to roll out changing stations across the Corporate Area (and perhaps to major towns).  But, really, charging stations are moot for this hybrid that can self-charge on gas.

On a full charge, you can expect to drive upwards of 32.5 miles.  For me, that’s more than enough to go to and from work or for errand runs on a Saturday.  Respectable.  You can also expect 148 MPG.  148 MPG with today’s gas prices means that you’ll spend more on the concert ticket than the gas for your next trip to MoBay!

Tomlin joined a handful of drivers who didn’t wait for government incentives to bring in her environmentally friendly car.  Are you ready to join in?

Tech4Life airs every Wednesday morning at 8:15 am on @RJR94FM.

Waste Busters! Tech tools to kill inefficiency

JBDC Business Dialogue

Regardless of the size of the business, waste can ravage the bottom line.   And waste can take many forms, weather it is the unnecessary late fees because the bearer paid the utilities bills late, or the ballooning stationary costs because of repeated print jams or the astronomical power bill because older equipment is burning electricity, poor waste management can break a business.

Fortunately, technology offers many specific tools to address the most common inefficiencies in the work place.

[Problem: Inefficiency | Solution: Technology | Area: Communications | Tool: VoIP]

Business operates on the back of clear and timely communication.  The team in the office or factory has to talk to the suppliers; the sales agents in the field have to be in touch with clients.  All the back and forth can prove costly.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a robust yet cost effective option whether your business is a small shop or a regional operation.  The cloud based communication system is often offered on contract to remove capital costs.  Handsets can be rented or returned as needed thereby reducing waste.  Additionally, handsets can be upgraded to the latest models without purchase.

Once installed, the value of basic features like hold, transfer, forwarding, caller ID, conference calling and voicemail, pale in comparison to powerful features like: being able to use the same number and/or extension anywhere in the world once there is a reliable internet connection.  Dynamic features like integrated voice and video teleconferencing, flat rate international dialling, free on network calling and advanced voicemail further boost productivity.

[Problem: Inefficiency | Solution: Technology | Area: Printing | Tool: Pay Per Print]

Printers have the capacity to hog resources like few machines can; paper jams, power drain and excessive ink all contribute to increased expenses.  Not to mention the amount of lost time when a team member has to address printing problems.

All these problems can be virtually eliminated by Pay Per Print programmes.  Like VoIP, the capital cost to purchase a printer is removed in favour or rental.  Maintenance costs are reallocated from the business to the renter and with regular maintenance, paper jams, misprinted paper and lost ink become distant memory.

To further boost efficiency, the savvy business leader ditches the concept of one printer per desk in favour of networked printers accessible by everyone on the network and team members on the internet as well.   With internet and intranet networking, colleagues on the road like sales and service men, can send documents to print while away from the office.

[Problem: Inefficiency | Solution: Technology | Area: Energy Management | Tool: Digital Energy Timers]

Plugging out printers at nights and on weekends can reduce expenses even further.

If the thought of remembering to unplug printers and other office appliances and plugging them in again on a daily basis makes you shudder, instead install a Digital Energy Timer (DET).  The DET is easy to install, relatively simply to programme and highly effective in reducing energy costs with very little added intervention.  Even when off, a device may consumer electricity; cutting the power all together cuts energy costs.

Lights, kitchen appliances, office equipment and even factory equipment can all be controlled by a DET.

Set the timer to cut the power to devices multiple times a day, or week.  Set the time to randomise the power cycle based on a template, which is especially useful for lights.  It gives the impression of human intervention for persons watching from outside.


It is no secret that reduced costs can lead to increased profits.  Shrewd business leaders will employ technology to bust waste.

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JPS eStore Smart Power Challenge

It is no secret that electricity in Jamaica is expensive.  For me, my JPS bill is among my biggest monthly expenses.  I needed to do something ... other than complain about the bill.  So, I have signed myself up for my self imposed JPS eStore Smart Power Challenge.

Challenge
Take this unscientific but possibly surprising journey with me.  Using a few 'tools' I picked up at the eStore, my goal is to reduce my electricity consumption from 267 kwh to 214 kwh.  That is 20% in one month!  A little ambitious no doubt, but where's the fun without the ambitious goal.

Tools
I've armed myself with three tools.

Digital Energy Timer (DET)

Digital Energy Timer (DET) - $3,200 - in effect, this smart plug safety cuts the power to any device plugged into it.  The version I have, was designed by Jamaican inventor Jackie Stuart but made in China.

LED Light - $2,600 - this expensive bulb saves up to 20% over florescent (CFL) bulbs.  I'm not going to even get into incandescent; if your still using those, you're way behind.

Smart Power Strip - $6,900 - this device has an outlet for the master and several for the slaves.  So, you plug, for example, your TV into the master, when the TV goes off, the device automatically cuts power to electronics like the DVD player or cable box plugged into the slave outlets.

Deployment
The DET went straight to the refrigerator.  I didn't need the available digital energy monitor to tell me that the fridge was burning up electricity (pun intended).  The timer can take up to seven different profiles; really I only needed one.  So it took longer to set up than I liked.  Further, I didn't find the instructions very helpful and the worst part is there is no website or customer service number for help.  Urgh!

Nevertheless, I set the timer to cut power to my fridge between 11 pm and 5 am daily.  I am really hoping for big savings and no spoilage.

The single LED bulb went to the kitchen, the light that is on almost all day and much of the night.  Frankly, I don't expect to save a lot here, but boy, the light pretty you see!  Maybe I would have a different result if I was able to replace every bulb in the house.

The JPS eStore smart power strip replaced my Monster Green Power Centre which protects against power spikes for coaxial and phone cables as well in addition to preventing vampire power (it's really fancy, I'll admit).  It's not really a fair trade, but let's see.

Result
Check back in a month and let's see!

Silent Chill

I am ashamed to admit that, I've been startled awake in the middle of the night by the compressor on my fridge kicking in.  That sucker is loud.

If I had the new, recently launched, Samsung Refrigerator with a digital inverter compressor, I could sleep like a baby.

Samsung Refrigerator
with Digital Inversion Compressor

Thanks much the people over at CME for inviting me to the launch at Courts Constant Spring.  During the event, everyone went through great pains to highlight the energy efficiency of the fridge.  They say, the digital inverter compressor uses a 5 speed RPM to automatically manage temperature fluctuations.

In effect, if you open the door a lot, or your put in Sunday dinner right off the stove, the fridge is smart enough to know to speed up the cooling process to re-establish the perfect temperature.  This saves you money in two ways - saving on electricity and saving on food spoilage.  Sounds like a win/win.

The stainless steel finished kitchen appliance is reported to be durable too.  All that power cooling leads to less wear and tear on the compressor that sports a 10 year warrant from the manufacturer.

I sure liked the cool, if unnecessary, digital display on the door, the super efficient LED lights, the recessed door handles and the very high capacity water dispenser (we really should drink more water).

But the coolest feature (no pun this time) is, the remarkably quiet compressor.  If I had this fridge, I would have to open the door to know it if was on.  Sweet.

Turn Off To Turn On

This is in effect the new pitch from the Jamaica Public Service Company – JPSCO.  Turn off to turn on.

I think it is safe to say that most Jamaicans hate JPS.  Yes.  I do know that hate is a strong word.  Yet, we love our power hungry devices.  We run the fridge, heat up the water, leave on the TV day and night, charge up the cell phone and, well you get the point.

Then, we turn around and blame JPS for the massive bill we get each month as we take a cleaver to our limbs to cover the bill.  It seems JPS is tired of that cycle (pun intended – just in case you weren’t sure).

Enter, the eStore and the concept of ‘conservation as fuel’.  JPS is encouraging us to take charge (I’m killing me) of our energy consumption using a variety of gadgets and gizmos to help us be, “energy safe, energy save and energy smart”. The flagship store on Ruthven Road stocks over 40 devices, which they say will save us money.  Just what we like to hear.

JPS eStore Surge Protector

JPS Director Sales and Marketing, Garth McKenzie broke it down for me.  Energy safe products include surge protects and other products that protect your equipment from power spikes and other catastrophes.  I will bet good money that you already have every appliance in your house connected to a surge protector.

Ok.  Moving on.  Energy save sounds a little more exciting.  I changed out all my incandescent bulbs to fluorescents a decade or so ago.  Seems like I need to spend some money on LED bulbs to save some money.  JPS is also offering a number of power switches and timers.  These save us money by stopping energy leakage – appliances using power when they don’t need to.

Work and entertainment electronics are BIG culprits in this department.  The TV, cable box, DVD player, printer/fax, well, again, you get the point.  These items, even when ‘powered off’ suck power from your grid.  We can save money by plugging these power hog devices into timers, which can automatically kill their electricity supply.  And its idiot proof!

Again, not new.  But, JPS is offering a locally designed Digital Energy Timer (DET) well suited for our 50-cycle power grid.  Jamaican inventor, Jackie Stuart says the DET can hold 16 programmes in a day and the days can be individually programmed.  Power outages don’t affect the DET, because it has it own back up battery.

Andrew Simmonds suggested that you could use the DET to turn off your TV at night.  I suggest that you could use it to cut power to your fridge while cutting cost from your bill!

For me, the most exciting product category was also the most expensive.  Energy smart.  Here’s the deal: you can call up JPS and arrange for an Energy Audit after the audit, they can install an energy monitor.  In effect, the monitor tells you where and when, you are burning up fuel.  But it is not cheap.  The most advanced monitor will set you back over forty grand.  But, it can give you really detailed reports on consumption and cost of energy use in real time.  No more waiting for the bar chart on the bill.

In his presentation at the store launch earlier this month, it was The Hon. Phillip Paulwell that said, “Conservation is the new fuel.”  JPS President and CEO Kelly Tomlin supported the sentiment with, “turn off to turn on.”  I will add my two cents (equivalent to about 45 sec of LED lighting) – spend more to save.