Plentify, a company that was founded with others by 2016 Tutu Fellow, Jon Kornik, is making an impact by using data to increase power savings and efficiencies for households. In a podcast by Business Day, they report that Plentify has developed - among other smart technologies - a device called HotBot, which can be attached to solar or geyser systems, helping to monitor energy consumption and use and produce savings. 

Based in South Africa and the US, Jon says Plentify "...makes affordable, reliable and clean electricity a reality for everyone."

An area in which Jon says homeowners can make gains is when solar power is used. The company’s research shows that geysers can be co-ordinated to shift their energy use into sunny times, and shape that energy use to match solar generation with great effect.

Jon believes that improving the resilience of cities is key to minimising catastrophic human costs of climate change.  He says a new model for utilities is needed to support this. He has spent his career applying innovations in finance, technology and business to address the supply of clean energy in Africa. In the same vein, he has led Google's clean energy initiatives in Africa, funding the largest wind and solar farms on the continent. "An advocate for smart home technology, Kornik sees opportunity in SA and other markets for such systems," writes Mudiwa Gavaza, a Technology Correspondent at Business Day.

Jon has worked for McKinsey & Company and independently provided consulting services on energy and sustainability issues to the South African government, Nike and Intel. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia University; a Master's degree in Finance from the University of Cape Town; and he is also a Feldberg Fellow.

You can read the report and listen to the podcast at the Business Day website.

Header image - From an interview during the AEAwards.