Glasgow tech startup iOpt will work with telecommunications major BT to help customers reach ‘net zero’ climate targets.

iOpt will use its Internet of Things (IoT) platform to enable smart buildings, with a focus on improving the quality of social housing for local councils.

The startup’s IoT platform provides real-time information and alerts on the condition of properties. Installed sensors will enable key information about issues like damp, mould, and fuel poverty to be collated and tracked in their IoT platform.

iOpt’s solution can assist councils with social regeneration and deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for tenants. iOpt’s preventative approach allows for energy efficiency improvements, meaning less risk of fuel poverty for tenants.

Further benefits for councils include lower preventative maintenance costs and cutting down unnecessary travel to fix issues, reducing carbon emissions.

BT will provide the network connectivity and manage the installation of the IoT sensors, while supporting iOpt in growing their customer base. It will also help iOpt accelerate their growth by offering their products to local councils across the UK who are looking to adopt environmental monitoring and smart building solutions.

Working with Silicon Valley-based company Plug and Play, iOpt is one of two startups BT has selected to develop ideas via its Green Tech Innovation Platform, announced last year. The other company selected is Everimpact, a Paris-based startup specialising in climate monitoring.

iOpt Managing Director Dane Ralston said: “At iOpt we are delighted to be working alongside BT on their Green Technology Innovation Platform. We always look to work with value-add partners and BT is clearly one of the leaders in connectivity infrastructure which is critical to delivering the potential value we envisage in smart cities and local authorities.

“Since our introduction, through Plug and Play, it’s clear we have many shared values and despite the obvious size difference in the two organisations there are many synergies and benefits to both parties.”

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The successful scaleups – the first in a series of green innovation partnerships which will be fostered by BT – were unveiled at the company’s ‘Towards Net Zero’ virtual showcase.

As part of the transition to a low carbon business model, BT recently announced that its network, offices, and shops worldwide were now powered by 100% renewable electricity, underpinning its commitment to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045.

BT’s commitment to reducing its carbon intensity will help the Scottish Government meet its target of net zero emissions by 2045 and is calling on other companies to adopt similar measures and commitments to help the country ‘build back better’ following the disruption of the global pandemic.

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Director of BT’s Enterprise business in Scotland Alan Lees said: “As the world looks to recover from the current health and economic crisis caused by Covid-19, we have an opportunity to accelerate the transition to a greener society, working in partnership with government, business and society as they look at how they need to adapt and change their business models in the evolving digital world.

“We also appreciate that BT can’t do this alone, with our track record in helping to incubate innovative start-ups/scale ups, such as iOpt, we look forward to bringing the best of our innovative ecosystem to support local councils on their journey towards Net Zero.”

Over the next few months, the scale-ups will be working with BT to run proof of concepts with local councils and other organisations. BT’s ambition is to further expand this approach to green innovation by working with more start-up/scale ups and across more customers and business segments, for example BT is already exploring opportunities for collaboration within health sector.