Revolutionary energy saver invented by housewife

A HOUSEWIFE who has just become a mother for the first time has created a utility meter that could revolutionise the way in which daily energy use is monitored.

Tanya Ewing, 38, from Perth, is awaiting worldwide patents for her Ewgeco technology (pronounced U-gee-ko), which will measure real-time consumption of electricity, water and gas.

It should also provide a usage reading in kW or litres. Each time an appliance or taps are turned on and off, the Ewgeco will show the level of consumption via a display that goes from green to amber to red.

Ms Ewing was back at home yesterday after winning "Dragons' Glen" - a Highland equivalent of the BBC's Dragons' Den - at The Outsider festival in Aviemore. One of the judges was Will Whitehorn, from Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, who called the Ewgeco "the Star Trek box".

Ms Ewing, who suffers from the potentially life-threatening illness Lyme disease, explained that the idea was borne from her frustration that utility meters - always hidden in cupboards, outside, or in garages - were difficult to read and simply give you a meaningless number.

She said she wanted to see at a glance how much water, gas and electricity was being consumed at any point in time, and how this related to her energy bills. The device will be designed to react each time a light, tap or TV is left on standby.

Ms Ewing said: "A busy mum walking out the door will be able at a glance to see just how much electricity, gas or water is being used - or wasted - at that time. But, of course, businesses too will be able to take advantage.

"The majority of the population is unaware of the true cost of appliances - and by saving just 1p an hour, this adds up to an annual saving of 87.60."

The idea was conceived in 2006. Ms Ewing has already won the Baillie Biggart award for innovation, and a Scottish local authority is planning to install Ewgecos into its schools and buildings later this year.

Still in the final stages of development, the Ewgeco should retail at less than 80.

For her efforts yesterday, she won 1,000 plus a day's consultancy from Bls Limited, the Edinburgh corporate-finance advisory firm run by Mary Campbell, one of the country's top business start-up experts.

A prototype of Ewgeco was showcased by the Aberdeen-based building firm Stewart Milne at its carbon-neutral house at an exhibition in Watford last week.

As well as interest from the construction industry, Ms Ewing said she has had inquiries from home-improvement stores, utility companies and energy charities.

She is in discussion with an industrial designer, and the first phase of production will see an electricity-only model, one for "invasive" use - within the actual utility systems of the house or business - and a device that can be installed in current "smart" meters provided by utility firms. The multi-utility device will then hopefully complete the product line.

Ms Ewing is confident the electricity-only Ewgeco will be available early next year. She said: "The government has recognised the need for homeowners to install an energy-monitoring device to help reduce carbon emissions. There is a huge market for Ewgeco."