Software firm’s efforts will save the city energy

GLASGOW “green building” specialist IES is to help local businesses increase energy efficiency as part of the city’s new status as the UK’s first “smart city”.

International Environmental Solutions provides software and consultancy to enable developers to design and calculate energy efficiency in their buildings. It played a part in Glasgow’s winning bid for a £24 million grant from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board.

Thirty cities around the UK competed f or the pilot role announced last week, known as the Future Cities Demonstrator. It will see the city trial technologies for improving the quality urban life.

As well as monitoring energy use, projects will include realtime traffic information, apps to check bus and train arrivals, and a pothole-reporting service.

Don McLean, IES’s managing director, said: “We had input into the bid … What we talked

of about is how we can help householders and businesses manage their energy use and to let people know how their building should be performing … also how the city could look more holistically at its energy performance.

“We do a lot of research and development i n anticipation of a future where a far greater proportion of the world’s population will be living in cities.”

Formed in 1994, IES has 115 employees in 11 countries and a turnover of over £6m. Much of its 11% annual growth last year, set to be repeated this year, came from diversification and acquisitions in new markets as the UK construction sector languishes.