Plextek, the electronics and communications design consultancy, based in Cambridge, UK, has launched a range of strategic activities to cover environmental advice and evaluation. The company is now able to help clients in communications equipment and services markets to evaluate technology options that both benefit the environment and make sense economically. A commercial advantage can also be generated thanks to the current dynamic regulatory environment.

Organizations are faced with many demands and choices arising from the growing awareness of the linkage between human activity and climate change. Governments have adopted ambitious carbon reduction and other environmental targets and are in turn placing obligations on manufacturers to comply with product energy consumption limits and reduce the use of hazardous materials. Network operators would also like to minimize energy use in order to bring down running costs and behave in an environmentally responsible manner. All organizations can therefore benefit from having a coherent environmental policy across the board.

Plextek will use its experience of energy saving communications solutions that the company has brought to market such as smart utility metering and street light control/monitoring systems using the company’s proprietary UNB low power, long range radio technology.

Graham Maile, director of strategic consulting at Plextek, said, “Plextek’s consultancy services help clients to evaluate the many specific issues that arise within the context of their business such as: How do I choose between technologies in order to save costs and minimize the carbon footprint of my products and services? What is the best architecture for my network, taking costs and the environment into account? What should my technology migration strategy be from an optimum whole-lifecycle perspective? Are there business opportunities for my company arising from the application of communications systems and services to actively mitigate negative environmental impacts? Armed with answers to these questions, our clients are better placed to make well informed decisions.”