An NUI Galway student has invented a device which measures domestic power use and could save households over €400 a year on their ESB bills.
Gerard Gallagher’s award-winning project uses off-the-shelf components to create a device which tracks power wastage, particularly overnight. Gerard, from Easky in Co Sligo, says the idea for the device came from the need to be able to monitor real-time energy use in the home.
Results to a PC
“An ESB meter only measures cumulative rather than real-time usage,” Gerard explains. “The prototype measures current usage, and with the aid of a microprocessor, it formats and displays the results on an LCD display, and also outputs results to a serial port for a PC or network connection.
“This allows a monitoring station to log and save both real-time and historical usage, which can be further processed or examined as required.”
He says his current estimate for annual savings is €409 for an average household.
Project praised
Gerard took the top prize for his project in the university’s new programme in Science and Technology Studies. At the student prize-giving ceremony, course director Dr Niamh Nolan complimented Gerard on the originality and relevance of his project.
The course is the only one of its kind in Ireland. Students study by a combination of distance and online resources, on-campus tutorials and practical sessions, and company-based projects. The programme is run by the Atlantic University Alliance, which comprises NUI Galway, the University of Limerick and University College Cork.
Learn more
Find out more about the Science and Technology Studies programme
