JSJS Designs to test its automation product on a commercial scale
BIRMINGHAM-based home automation firm JSJS Designs has been brought in on a £495,000 project which will see its technology used in commercial buildings for the first time.
It has partnered with WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group) and the estates office at the University of Warwick and they plan to use £495,000 of funding awarded by the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, on an automation project.
The idea is to retrofit a wireless heating micro-management system (HMS) to the university’s social sciences building. The system hands control over to both the building management team and the building’s occupants who will be able to use their smart phones and tablet computers to control heating at a room-by-room basis.
The project will allow JSJS to test the LightwaveRF technology on a large complex building and help the company scale up the application of a technology that in the past has only be available to smaller and simpler domestic properties. The project will be worth £220,000 to Innovation Birmingham Campus-based JSJS over the next year.
The project draws on the research of Dr Rebecca Cain, WMG associate professor in experience-led innovation at the University of Warwick. Dr Cain’s research aims to improve people’s experiences of spaces, places, products and services through better design.
She said: “This is a great opportunity to test some of the research we have been doing across a range of public spaces in the energy management arena. It is imperative that users of such technology are able to fully engage in the process of monitoring energy usage in their homes or work spaces in order to enhance its effectiveness.”
John Shermer, managing director of JSJS, said: “This is an ideal showcase for the automation systems we have developed in a non-domestic environment. It will highlight the potential of retrofitting smart technologies into existing buildings to increase efficiencies and improve the user experience of such technology.
“If this project is successful then we hope to provide the technology to a much broader section both within Warwick University and other universities nationally.”
Scott Crowther, knowledge transfer specialist at WMG, said: “Our work at WMG is all about helping small businesses realise their potential and develop leading products and services. This is a great case of the benefits of collaborating with a university.”
On Monday JSJS Designs experienced a hike in its share price but said it didn’t know why. However – referring to today’s announcement – it noted it would be able to announce a contract win in the next couple of days with a new customer.
