Abstract: This system is for efficient consumption of a consumable or resource such as electricity, gas or the like. Each consumer site, such as a household or business, has a consumer node. The consumer node gathers consumption data from one or more consumer devices consuming the consumable. A central node is in communication with the consumer nodes and determines a collective consumption of the consumable across the plurality of consumer sites. The central node participates in live markets in order to secure delivery of the consumable as required collectively across the plurality of consumer sites. The central node communicates market data conveying substantially live market effects to the consumer nodes, and the consumer nodes process the market data in a manner to influence consumption of the consumable, for example by deactivating devices during market peaks.

Abstract: The cost savings of outsourcing may be thought of as a predictable but illiquid cash flow. The illiquid cash flow is monetized by way of securitization. A method of monetizing a cash flow asset obtainable from the difference between the costs of an in-house business component of a client and the costs of outsourcing that business component is provided. The method comprises outsourcing the business component of the client to an outsourcing vendor, and securitizing the asset.