PropTech innovation drives Australia’s renewable energy transition and tackles the energy affordability crisis head-on.
EnergyFlex’s mission to transform how Australia uses energy was recognised with the prestigious Residential PropTech of the Year Award at the 2024 PropTech Awards hosted by PropTech Association Australia. EnergyFlex also received the “Highly Commended” honour in the Environment and Energy Efficiency category.
This accolade underscores the growing importance of technology in addressing the nation’s energy challenges, particularly amidst rising energy costs and the ongoing climate and cost-of-living crises.
Tackling energy affordability with energy flexibility
Energy costs are a massive financial burden for property owners and tenants, and emissions from electricity generation make up over 30% of total emissions. To meet Australia’s 2050 net-zero emissions target, drastic improvements in energy flexibility and efficiency across the built environment are needed.
EnergyFlex’s innovative app empowers homeowners, renters, businesses, and property managers across Australia to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions and actively participate in the renewable energy transition – for free.
“This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to innovation and our commitment to empowering consumers to take control of their energy usage,” said Garry Harding, CEO and Co-Founder of EnergyFlex. “If we don’t change our energy habits, electricity prices will continue to increase, meeting net-zero emissions targets will become more challenging, and we’ll delay progress towards a sustainable and low-carbon future.”
EnergyFlex’s free app helps users understand their energy consumption patterns and make informed decisions about when and how they use electricity. The app leverages the Federal Government’s Consumer Data Right (CDR) framework to provide users with insights into their energy consumption patterns. By aligning their usage with renewable energy sources, households and businesses can significantly reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.
EnergyFlex Rating: A game-changer for the property sector
EnergyFlex guides users on their journeys to becoming Renewables Ready with a first-of-its-kind sustainability score. The EnergyFlex Rating (out of 5) measures how well a property’s energy use aligns with renewable energy sources. A low rating indicates that most of the property’s electricity comes from expensive fossil fuels. A high rating indicates that most of the property’s electricity comes from renewable energy. Higher ratings also correlate with lower bills and lower carbon emissions.
“Property assets, commercial, industrial or residential, are a significant use case for the application of the EnergyFlex Rating system. This dynamic metric encourages users to focus on the timing of their energy use rather than how much they use. Simple shifts in when they use energy can bring down any property’s energy costs and carbon emissions,” said Harding.
The EnergyFlex Rating has the potential to become a critical metric for property purchasing or leasing decisions. High-rating properties will attract purchasers and command greater prices due to their low energy-cost potential.
EnergyFlex has received consistently positive user responses. On average, residential users have saved between $500 and $1,000 on their energy bills, while business customers report much higher savings.
Biggest event yet
More than 125 proptech companies entered the 2024 PropTech Awards, making this the biggest event in the awards’ four-year history. Accolades were issued across 13 categories, including energy and environment, construction, property maintenance, planning and design, and asset and facility management.
Kylie Davis, President of Proptech Association Australia, said: “The proptech sector has moved from being focused on sales, marketing, and property management solutions to now working to solve diverse and intractable problems, including housing supply, affordability, ownership, and energy efficiency.”
“This year, one of our biggest categories was the Consumer Proptech award, demonstrating the number of proptechs now working to put power back in the hands of property buyers, renters and owners. AI, Energy Efficiency, and Data Solutions were also extremely strong categories.”
EnergyFlex’s success underscores the growing demand for accessible, user-friendly solutions that address the complexities of the energy market. The company remains dedicated to expanding its platform’s capabilities and reach, further assisting Australians in their journey towards a more sustainable and affordable energy future.
