While the primary focus of the Games of the XXX Olympiad may be on the athletes, (and rightfully so), another “competition” of sorts will be witnessed by thousands of fans in Olympic Park.
EDF Energy, the largest electricity supplier in London and official electricity supplier of the 2012 Olympic Games, has unveiled a real-time energy monitoring tool that will be installed in a number of sports venues across Olympic Park. The tool also will be installed at several renowned venues and landmarks throughout London, including Tower Bridge and the London Eye.
Visi, a systematic energy monitoring tool, will display how energy is being used during the games. The information will be shared through the EDF Power the Games Live website. There also will be a smartphone application for those looking to follow along as they wander the narrow–and likely crowded–streets of the city.
According to EDF, Visi technology displays energy consumption information in an easy-to-understand format. The tool also allows users to see the effect of external factors, such as temperature, rainfall, daylight, etc., as well as the building’s specific use patterns.
In addition to seeing energy usage data, visitors will be able to see the many benefits of unique energy-saving features at Olympic Park venues, such as low-energy lights and “natural ventilation.”
Beyond the novelty of the Games, Visi has a number of very real benefits. The tool will allow facility managers to track energy use during each Olympic event–and how their actions affect their facility’s energy usage–in near real time.
This is just one part of the much larger initiative from the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) to deliver a low-carbon and sustainable Olympic Games, a daunting task considering the sheer size and scope of such an event.
Hopefully the new tool, and the efficiency efforts it was designed to promote, will help the city of London take home the gold.
Article by Tim Laughlin, appearing courtesy Xcel Energy Blog.
