An online mapping app created by Stirling technology company thinkWhere is helping householders across Britain cut their energy usage with home improvement measures.

The app was commissioned by Ofgem (the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets), the government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets in Great Britain.

Heating cost reduction

With searches by postcode or more advanced map lookups, the app is made publicly available for use by energy companies, installers as well as consumers. According to thinkWhere the lookup tool now quickly identifies if properties may be eligible for support under a scheme called the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO). The tool can be accessed at https://eco.locationcentre.co.uk/

The system combines publicly available datasets with advanced web mapping tools. Users can simply enter a postcode to see if the property falls within an eligible HHCRO area. Energy companies, installers and other invested organisations can also undertake advanced searches using additional filters such as local authority or census output areas.

In addition to developing the original tool with Ofgem and updating it as new policies are introduced under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, thinkWhere also hosts the solution and provides on-going support and data maintenance.

The ECO is a government energy efficiency scheme for Great Britain, administered by Ofgem. Under ECO large energy providers are obligated to fund the installation of energy efficiency measures in consumer households. Each supplier has a target, based on its market share, and will work with installers to introduce energy efficiency measures such as insulation or heating measures. Households may qualify for support under the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO), targeted at low income, vulnerable and fuel poor households.

thinkWhere provides an online platform for storing, sharing and using maps and geographic data. Utilising Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, thinkWhere has developed cloud-based software applications and tools, backed by a wide range of Open GIS implementation, consultancy and training services.

Based in Stirling, Scotland, with customers across the UK and worldwide, thinkWhere claims to have pioneered the development of web-based platforms for collaborative GIS products and services.