The Yello Sparzähler online transmits the data of energy used in the home to the computer of the customer who is able to see to the second from software or a Vista gadget how much energy the refrigerator, stove, hi-fi system, flow heater, etc. actually consume. The system immediately detects electricity hogs and saves energy and money. For the first time, customers are provided full transparency, consumption and cost control of their energy consumption via the personal online account on the Yello homepage. Customers can check on their PCs at any time how consumption and energy costs have changed over months, days and even quarters of an hour. The Yello Sparzähler online turns customers into energy managers in their own four walls.
Yello’s Sparzähler concept and Microsoft’s software technology make a significant contribution to the efficiency of energy and climate protection with their development cooperation by introducing more customer-friendly and simplified information technology for the home.
"This is a great example of how software can help us achieve new levels of energy efficiency in every aspect of our lives," said Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. "In the years ahead, software-based innovations that make homes more intelligent so we use only the energy we need for lighting, heating, and cooling is just one of the ways information technology will help us protect the environment by using natural resources more efficiently."
Martin Vesper, CEO of Yello: "We have developed a cost-efficient solution for consumers with the yellow Sparzähler enabling them to efficiently and intelligently use energy. Our Sparzähler makes the consumption of energy transparent and simplifies the saving of energy. That is the best form of environmental protection available on the energy market today. The partnership with Microsoft enables us access to software technological opportunities aimed to rapidly implement our many ideas for the more intelligent and efficient use of energy today and in future."
Consumption data are transmitted by a communication module (ComBox) that is integrated into the energy meter and will be based on the Microsoft operating system Windows CE. Microsoft products like BizTalk Server, Windows Server and SQL Server ensure the transmission of the consumption data to Yello via the internet. Yello uses .NET and the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) for the programming and design of the web site and the software installed on the customer PC.
Yello
With the Sparzähler online, Yello promotes the competition on the so far monopolistic market of the old black world of electricity meters. The liberalization of the metering market enables Yello to offer products like the Yello Sparzähler online throughout Germany and bring long overdue innovations for private customers to the metering market. In 1999, Yello was the first national provider on the German electricity market and the driving force in pushing free choice of providers. With 1.4 million customers, Yello Strom today is among Germany’s top 10 energy companies. The brand awareness of Yello accounts for 98 percent (according to the GfK, January 2008). Yello has introduced the Sparzähler on the gas market in October 2007 already - the Gas Sparzähler is a combination product offered with low-cost gas on the two pilot markets Essen and Nuremberg. Since September 2007, Yello has provided energy in Sweden and thus expanded internationally.
Microsoft Deutschland GmbH
Microsoft Deutschland GmbH is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation/Redmond, U.S.A., the world’s largest producer of standard software, services and solutions with revenues of $51.1 billion (as of June 30, 2007). The German subsidiary was founded in 1983 and is responsible for the marketing and sales of Microsoft products in Germany. In addition to the corporate headquarters in Unterschleissheim near Munich, Microsoft Deutschland GmbH operates six regional offices in Germany and employs more than 2,200 people. Within a network of about 33,000 partner companies, Microsoft supports businesses from all industries and of any size. In May 2003, the European Microsoft Innovation Center (EMIC) was opened in Aachen with the focus on the research areas of IT security, data protection, mobility, mobile applications and web services.
2008-056 UK
