Machine-learning enabled-start up to reduce energy costs by over a fifth
RO Capital Partners (“ROCP”), the RO Group’s venture capital arm, announces that its portfolio company, measurable.energy, has installed its smart power sockets in the office of PKF Francis Clark in Bristol. PKF Francis Clark is an award-winning firm of chartered accountants and business advisers.
measurable.energy is a UK tech company that designs and manufactures smart, machine-learning enabled power sockets that will reduce the energy costs of PKF Francis Clark’s Bristol office by more than 20%. PKF Francis Clark is located at 90 Victoria Street in that city, an office building comprising 24,377 sq. ft. of high-quality office accommodation across four storeys.
measurable.energy’s solution eliminates ‘Small Power’ waste, which is energy not required by devices that are plugged in or directly wired; such as printers, AV equipment, chilled and hot water taps, monitors, and heaters, and which are often left fully on or in standby mode overnight. Up to 40% of total electricity usage in most commercial office buildings can be attributed to this type of ‘Small Power’ energy use.
Edward Rowlandson, Group Managing Director, the RO, said:
"We are very pleased to have installed measurable.energy’s technology in our flagship Bristol property for a key tenant, PKF Francis Clark. We acquired 90 Victoria Street in Bristol in April 2023, and ROCP’s investment into Reading-based measurable.energy was also made early in 2023.
“That investment was driven by the need to reduce energy, and we are delighted that PKF Francis Clark’s values align with our own, and that of measurable.energy. We look forward to seeing their simple solution for office occupiers who are under pressure to take action, cut energy costs, and reduce emissions installed in more properties around the country, as the business looks to scale.”
CEO and Co-Founder of measurable.energy, Dan Williams said:
“My electricity-saving message to companies is to not be fooled by the small size of certain devices. A very high percentage of an office occupier’s electricity bill hides in the shadows, among small gadgets and forgotten chargers. This silent power drain adds up faster than tenants think, and without ever realising it. Powered by machine learning, our plug sockets will automatically identify and eliminate ‘Small Power’ waste for PKF Francis Clark, turning every appliance in their Bristol office into a cost-saving superhero.”
Jim Solomon, Regional Facilities Manager at PKF Francis Clark concluded:
“Since deploying measurable.energy's AI-powered sockets, we have not only reduced our office's energy consumption of the devices using the sockets by 38%, but have also gained invaluable insights into our power usage patterns. This technology has been instrumental in our efforts to operate more sustainably and efficiently.”
RO is a family owned group of companies established in 1932. The RO has always invested in a diverse range of interests which today embraces commercial property, housebuilding, and venture capital.
RO Real Estate, the commercial property division, has built over 1.1 million sq. ft. to date and currently manages over 300,000 sq. ft. of office, industrial, and retail. All acquisitions are funded through existing cash resources, meaning that the RO is able to move quickly if the appropriate investment criteria are met.
RO’s award winning housebuilder, Metis Homes, builds modern homes with traditional values and has created a diverse portfolio of bespoke, high quality homes in prime locations – from traditional properties in rural settings to contemporary town centre schemes.
RO Capital Partners is the Group’s venture capital arm. Capital Partners is an active, early stage investment partner principally focusing on: Proptech (the use of technology to innovate the built environment and real estate market); Cleantech (solutions addressing the challenges of environmental sustainability and the transition to a low carbon economy); and Fintech (the disruption of traditional business models in financial services).
RO Land was established in 2020 to build on the group’s existing successes in land acquisition and planning. Its objective is to add value to land by unlocking its development potential. It promotes greenfield and brownfield sites for a wide range of uses, including residential, commercial, and alternatives such as renewables. It has a long term investment approach which allows it to unlock sites that may be considered too difficult by other promoters.
The RO Group is committed to creating value for all stakeholders whilst also addressing environmental and social issues. This includes:
Measuring the RO’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprint, capturing all goods and services emissions sources, with support from Planet Mark as part of its journey to Net-Zero.
RO Capital Partners actively invests in business opportunities with positive environmental and social impacts.
RO Energy pursues projects in renewable energy including a 5 MW solar park in Milton Keynes.
RO Group actively reviews its operating systems and supply chain to ensure that it consistently drives efficiencies, and works with other businesses that value diversity and sustainability.
For more information please visit www.rogroup.co.uk or contact:
Edward Rowlandson, Group Managing Director, the RO
Steve White, Group Commercial Director, the RO
Tel: 0170 760 1400
John West / Llew Angus / Lily Pearce, Belvedere Communications
Tel: 0207 653 8705