VPhase Provides Affordable Voltage Optimization to Home Owners

October 22nd, 2009 by Beth Graddon-Hodgson

It’s rare that you’ll encounter a home owner today who says that if they had the option, they wouldn’t want to reduce their carbon emissions or reduce their energy consumption, and in turn, the costs of home ownership. The problem is, that in many cases, greener home technology is just out of reach of many North Americans because of the high costs that are still associated with the options available on the market. This has been the case with voltage optimization technology that can accomplish the above goals, but until recently, it’s only been attainable to large organizations looking to optimize their energy use because of cost. A UK company has decided to address this lapse in the industry by introducing the VPhase, an affordable voltage optimization technology for home owners.

The VPhase voltage optimization device is designed to reduce home energy use by approximately 17%, and home owners don’t even need to change their habits or purchase new home electronics and other devices that use energy. The VPhase, which was developed by the company from which the device gets its name along with Liverpool University, is available in the UK at a cost of 299 GBP. It needs to be wired into the home’s electrical system via its fuse box, and must be fit by an electrician, in order to give UK homes constant access to 220V of electricity and a 17% reduction in energy usage for major home appliances, and 15% savings for lighting and heating pumps.

The VPhase is the first voltage optimization device designed for home usage, but they’re far from the first to embrace this concept. In addition to similar technologies which have been available to larger organizations looking to reduce their carbon footprints, specially designed appliances and lighting systems are also available, which might enter the ranks of affordable green home technology in the future.

Via: Springwise

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Tags: carbon reduction, Electricity, energy bills, energy costs, energy efficient homes, green home technology, reduce energy costs, voltage optimization

About the Author

Beth Graddon-Hodgson

Bjorm

I believe electricity distributors in the USA have called this
a con, and not to install it.
Brinderjitatwal

Vphase is definitely a scam the figures they quote are for a very small percentage of the electricity using equipment in a single phase installation because these unit will not work with anything containing a thermostat like electrical heating, refrigeration or oven equipment. They do not work with modern Switch Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) either.
The scam is that they are installed by electricians who usually want to upgrade the distribution board whilst they are in your home; if not the entire installation. The sad thing is that when people are sold on saving energy they will pay anything to get these units installed. The saddest thing is these units do not save very much in fact, arguably although Voltage Optimisation (VO) works well in three phase applications in single phase they are more likely to imbalance the phases from the substation to the domestic network thereby causing currents and heating in the neutral which decreases the efficiency of the grid itself. Thence, having one of these units installed increases the overall carbon footprint of the grid. Unfortunately, the customer does not see this.
Definitely a scam.
Jenn

I think this is a scam. There is no way a glorified surge protector reduces either kilowatt electric demand or kilowatt hour electric usage. Check with your electrical utility to be sure before you waste any money on this snake oil.
Jenn

I think this is a scam. There is no way a glorified surge protector reduces either kilowatt electric demand or kilowatt hour electric usage. Check with your electrical utility to be sure before you waste any money on this snake oil.