The electricity industry is, generally speaking, rather dull. Yes, we all need electricity, but there’s nothing particularly innovative about how we obtain it. Just sign up with the local power company, and that’s that.
Ari Sargent and Simon Coley are seeking to change that. Their Powershop startup is a new take on how customers buy power—over the web. The idea is to save money for customers but also to make things simpler. Presently, only Meridian Energy, which owns Powershop, and the blogger venture Flower Power are represented on Powershop, but Sargent hopes more power generators will come on board as the business takes off.
But Powershop doesn’t rely on other generators joining its online market, as it also offers a white-label service for budding electricity tycoons. In fact, anyone can become a Powershop retailer—a supermarket chain, the local scout group, community organisations, you name it. Idealog could sell electricity. Flower Power is an invention of some Kiwi bloggers, run entirely on Powershop’s own infrastructure. That flexibility could well be the main driver for Powershop’s potential success.
Peter Griffin caught up with the Sargent and Coley in Wellington a few months before Powershop’s public release. Read his story in Idealog on how Powershop plans to give the staid electricity industry a shock or two.
EcoInnovate or die
The EcoInnovator
supplement in our current issue is sustenence for anyone
concerned with sustainable business. It features stories on biofuels,
the $2 billion opportunity that sorting out our rotting housing stock
represents, and much more. Check out the contents list on our website.
Sustainability
and environmental care are no longer optional concepts, and should be
considered standard practice in business. That they’re not is a failure
on many levels, one that is already costing us dearly and could
ultimately have catastrophic consequences.
For an idea why, here’s the great and good Pete Postlethwaite and a trailer for The Age of Stupid, a film that we should all hope is completely and utterly wrong.
Your workspace will never sound the same after you try Ron Winter’s web percussion machine. Best use of Adobe Flash ever, and the subliminals are cool too. Turn it up!
Engage your audience and get results
At Method, we create online experiences that engage and inspire.
We help your brand come to life and ensure it stands out from the rest, not only appealing to your customer but really connecting with them as well.
See how we’ve helped our clients get results with their online presence. Visit methodstudios.co.nz
Calloo Carlaw
Oh frabulous joy to see that rather well-known architects Warren and Mahoney have slapped together a non-run-of-the-mill office building
for Nestlé over at the old rugby grounds of Carlaw Park. By using
sustainable and recycled site demolition materials when constructing
the Carlaw Park building, and making it energy efficient and close to
public transport, Nestlé’s new digs get four green stars for best
practice from the New Zealand Green Building Council.
W&M
thought about sustainability internally too, and put in six rubbish
stations instead of bins throughout the building, saving some 30,000
plastic bags a year, and ‘follow-you’ printing that reduces consumables
while increasing document security and staff mobility. Kitchen
equipment and spaces were also made as energy-efficient as possible.
Oh, and the building looks pretty cool, too.
There’s some
irony in this. Warren & Mahoney were very publicly involved with
the proposal to build a national stadium on Auckland’s waterfront,
eventually rejected after strong opposition from the locals. The
decision came down to a choice between the new stadium and redeveloping
Eden Park, but we reckon the best option was to redevelop Carlaw Park.
We’d love to have seen W&M working its magic, creating an iconic
national playground between Parnell, the Auckland Domain and the city.
Inspiration overkill
If these 40 speeches don’t get your arse out of neutral in two minutes, nothing will.
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Pure balls
Dan Magness shows what can be done with a simple round device, filled with air. Oh yeah, it’s something to do with Sony Bravia as well.
Read more on our website: web exclusives, opinion, creative directory, Idealog TV, the Idealog blogs and the Idealog podcast. See you at www.idealog.co.nz.
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