Revolutionising Smart Energy Monitoring

Client:

Octopus Energy

Project:

Home Mini

Goal:

Create an intuitive, user-friendly device to help households monitor and reduce energy consumption while matching the price point of traditional in-home displays.

Results

Deployed to hundreds of thousands of homes UK-wide

Consistently high user satisfaction rates

Significant reduction in user support requirements

Enhanced energy usage awareness

Improved customer engagement with smart energy features

Challenge

Octopus Energy needed a compact, easy-to-use smart device that could provide real-time energy consumption data to homeowners while offering significantly more functionality than traditional IHDs.

Our Solution

We developed the Home Mini, a sleek, IoT-enabled energy monitor that sits in the home as a Smart device with a purpose build software platform that:

Tracks real-time energy usage with 10-second interval updates

Connects to smartphones for detailed analytics

Offers personalised energy-saving tips

Integrates directly with smart meters for accurate readings

Features secure, encrypted communications

Enables over-the-air updates for continuous improvement

Delivers real-time tariff and cost information

Integrates with Octopus's Kraken platform for advanced features

User Benefits

Real-time visibility of electricity and gas usage

Immediate cost tracking

Energy usage pattern insights

Smart tariff optimisation

Mobile app accessibility

Automated energy saving recommendations

Technical Solution

Rufilla’s innovative design approach included:

Custom Hardware Design Utilising the ESP32 Controller

Chosen for optimal balance of cost, performance, and availability

Integrated WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities

Robust security features

Efficient power management

Advanced Security Implementation

Comprehensive penetration testing

Secure boot implementation

Encrypted communications

Regular security update capability

Smart Meter Integration

Direct communication with smart meter systems

Real-time data parsing and processing

Multiple meter type support

Reliable data transmission protocols

System Architecture

Seamless connection with Octopus's Kraken platform

Real-time data synchronisation

Efficient data compression

Robust error handling

Current Development

Production Optimisation & Management

Optimised component selection for cost efficiency

Streamlined assembly process

Comprehensive quality control systems

Efficient supply chain management

Scalable production capabilities

What does this mean for you?

While these solutions were developed for smart energy applications, the underlying technologies and approaches can be adapted to solve similar challenges across various industries. Here's how this technology could transform your sector:

Manufacturing

Real-time production line energy monitoring

Machine efficiency tracking

Cost optimisation analysis

Predictive maintenance alerts

Resource usage visualisation

Healthcare

Patient monitoring systems

Medicine storage temperature tracking

Equipment usage optimisation

Resource consumption analysis

Compliance monitoring solutions

Retail

Store energy consumption tracking

Cold storage monitoring

Peak hours usage optimisation

Multi-location energy management