Energy-saving software and management solutions are more vital than ever before. Advanced technology and analytics platforms now allow companies to control and monitor usage, maximizing energy savings and reducing the negative impact on the planet.
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Measuring and planning for the consumption of energy can be difficult for businesses. If energy consumption runs too low, they may suffer productivity outages. In contrast, high energy consumption can be detrimental to a company&#;s bottom line.
The process of energy management is of the utmost importance. Having a coherent energy management system for monitoring and distributing energy makes it easier to plan out operations for the long term.
What is energy management and why is it important?
Energy management is the use of collected metrics to plan and distribute available energy resources across a business or organization. Energy managers work to carefully consider how specific policies will affect their organization and adjust consumption targets accordingly.
There is an increasing global need to save energy. Along with environmental benefits, energy management systems have many internal advantages for an organization. With energy management software, companies can stay ahead of energy consumption and make better decisions about how their resources are used.
How does energy management software (EMS) work?
Energy management software provides a straightforward way for organizations to track utilities and collect important metrics associated with energy use. With the right information, businesses can create sustainable practices and eliminate wasteful energy consumption patterns from their day-to-day operations.
EMS offers an energy management platform for users to collect and analyze usage data so they can compare different factors and instantly generate reports. Energy-saving software can be a huge boon to organizations of all sizes.
Collecting energy-usage data
Energy tracking and collection is the first step in taking control of energy usage. Energy Management Software is an essential tool to optimize energy usage because it collects raw data from multiple sources.
Data can be collected from a variety of energy sources, such as:
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Wood
- Propane
- Electricity
- Steam
- Wastewater
- Water
- Chilled water
- Fuel oil
- Irrigation
- Refuse and other sources
This data makes it possible to create targeted management solutions to help your operation run as smoothly as possible.
Analyzing energy-usage data
Energy data analytics provide a real-world understanding of usage that can be applied to policies for greater efficiency. Energy Management Software that collects energy-usage data associated with operations gives managers a better idea of how to distribute their assets moving forward.
EMS can conduct analyses to address utility bills, energy initiatives, energy waste, or other factors that affect operations. Analysis of energy-usage data is vital for solving complex problems within organizations.
Comparing energy-usage data
Energy optimization requires organizations to consider energy usage over time. An EMS solution allows you to compare energy consumption to specified baselines, including similar facilities. These comparisons are essential for determining which facilities are operating most efficiently and making adjustments to those that aren&#;t.
Generating cost and usage reports
Businesses rely on energy forecasting to plan for expected energy costs and adjust operations accordingly. Energy Management software makes it easy to generate cost and usage reports, providing clarity over policy outcomes and objectives.
EMS software can generate reports on important metrics, such as:
- Energy use
- Carbon emissions
- Operational expenses
- Utilities
- Avoided costs
With this information readily available, decision-makers are better equipped to handle the ongoing pressures of energy management.
What are the benefits of using energy management software?
Energy management system software eliminates uncertainties in the production process, improving operations for stakeholders in a wide variety of industries.
This software offers an efficient solution for organizations that want to maintain an edge against the competition and experience its many energy management benefits.
Reduce energy costs
Energy asset management is the perfect solution for businesses looking to reduce energy costs. An energy management solution helps reduce a company&#;s energy costs across the board through the introduction of practices like these:
- Improving operational efficiencies
- Removing redundant equipment
- Powering down at the end of the day
- Automation of low-traffic locations
With these cost-cutting measures in place, businesses can effectively reduce their carbon footprint, resulting in more sustainable operations that aren&#;t impeded by changes in market energy prices.
Minimize waste and improve sustainability
With the increasing importance of sustainable business practices, organizations need to have strict policies for reducing waste across all operations. An EMS solution makes identifying and eliminating energy waste easier by giving decision-makers a unified platform for collecting data and improving consumption policies.
Enhance employee productivity and well-being
Energy management for productivity is essential to a happy and healthy workplace. Studies show that a comfortable work environment boosts employee productivity and well-being.
According to a study by IEEE, &#;productivity of workers increases 14% when working in a more comfortable workplace.&#; Factors such as comfortable temperatures, appropriate lighting, and automated services can make a huge difference in how much employees can get done throughout the day.
Support data-driven decision-making
EMS energy analytics gives you access to the right data when you need it. These insights provide a more accurate and efficient decision-making metric, giving leaders a better understanding of operations so they can improve internal policies and ensure they&#;re in line with expectations.
Prove and communicate success
A lack of transparency can be detrimental to an organization when attempting to demonstrate progress to outsiders. With an EMS solution in place, you can show changes in metrics over time and map out the impact of implemented policies.
EMS gives you advanced reporting features so you can quickly and effectively communicate savings, progress, and overall success to key stakeholders.
What are the elements of an effective energy management software?
It&#;s important to look for an EMS solution with features that will allow you to get the most out of your investment. Selecting just one of the many energy management solutions can be difficult, but users should consider these key elements before making their choice.
Cost breakdowns
For most organizations, energy costs are a major detriment to profitability. It is essential to have a tool for controlling costs and maximizing efficiencies. Energy monitoring software provides insights into an organization's biggest cost drivers, which helps guide cost-saving initiatives.
Reporting & benchmarking capabilities
Energy management tools must be able to address the insights hidden in large amounts of data. Quality reporting tools allow businesses to measure operational data and evaluate performance metrics. These capabilities make it easier to identify, interpret, and communicate key insights from your data.
Real-time consumption tracking
Energy usage is often difficult to track, making budgeting and adjusting to new circumstances difficult. EMS gives users specifics about their consumption habits in real time, taking the guesswork out of energy management.
A solid EMS solution ensures your organization has the right data at the right time, allowing decision-makers to take quick, energy-efficient action when it matters most.
Energy-savings recommendations
Organizations operate at different scales, and each has its own needs. Energy efficiency software offers specialized recommendations to users, giving them insights into how to effectively address their energy use.
If you&#;re looking for advanced energy management solutions for your business, Brightly&#;s EMS helps identify energy-saving initiatives so you can focus on what&#;s important.
Energy management tips and best practices
Organizations that want to create an energy management program that works for them should consider the long-term potential of an energy management platform.
Implementing EMS in your organization can be complicated. It&#;s especially important to consider energy management best practices when deploying your solution in the real world.
The more data, the better
If you want to improve your energy management practices, you need to collect as much raw data as possible. Consistent data collection allows organizations to identify usage patterns and energy waste that would otherwise be impossible to detect. This is essential for streamlining your energy management capabilities.
Identify and quantify your energy-saving initiatives
Each organization has unique goals &#; and unique challenges to overcome in achieving them. EMS helps identify and track these goals by allowing you to manage large volumes of data in a single location. Quantifying your energy-saving goals will make it easier to find the best solution when making hard choices.
Track your progress
When creating an energy management policy, organizations should make sure to keep track of their ongoing progress. Tracking energy-saving initiatives allows you to make needed adjustments along the way, making it easier to identify key insights and demonstrate successes.
It&#;s an ongoing process
Energy management is an ongoing process that takes time and effort. Identifying new energy savings and planning accordingly is only possible with a clear vision of the future. With EMS, you can seamlessly integrate each of these steps into your plan of action, allowing you to implement the best solutions as company-wide policies.
How can I implement energy management software within my organization?
For most organizations, having a solid EMS solution is a no-brainer. With Brightly as a partner, you&#;ll have all you need to identify and eliminate energy waste.
The ease of getting started makes Brightly a perfect option for your business, no matter what stage of growth you&#;re in. Our energy monitoring dashboard provides a simple and convenient way to track and manage energy-related metrics. With Brightly, you&#;ll have an energy management platform that meets the demands of today without breaking the bank.
Schedule your free custom demo today!
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Artificial intelligence-based EMS are today's digital tools in energy saving
The first step towards a more efficient energy system is to understand how much energy we consume and where it comes from. This requires an overview of all the activities that take place in our homes or offices.
The second step is to identify which of these activities can be automated so as to save energy. As a result, the industry is relying on the power of Energy Management Software (EMS).
Throughout the literature on the subject, the acronym EMS is often used interchangeably to describe both Energy Management Systems and Energy Management Software. For this article, we will use it to talk about Energy Management Software.
What is Energy Management Software?
Energy management software is a digital tool that allows you to monitor energy consumption and manage it by automating certain tasks. In addition, EMS also provides insights on how to improve efficiency and cut costs further. Informed decisions help you make better choices regarding the levels of your energy usage.
The main goal of these systems is to reduce costs by optimising consumption and production processes. But you're probably wondering how this works, aren't you? So, let's not waste more time!
How does Energy Management Software work?
Energy consumption data can be analysed using computer programs such as those based on artificial intelligence. These programs help us to find out which activities are consuming too much energy and which ones can be improved by changing their behaviour.
This is done by a framework encompassing three phases: reporting, monitoring and engagement.
Reporting
First, the user must report his/her energy consumption. The information collected will then be sent to the EMS.
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Monitoring
Next, the EMS analyses the data received and identifies the most relevant actions to automate. For example, if there is no need to heat the environment during winter, the EMS platform might turn off heating devices automatically when temperatures drop below a certain threshold.
Engagement
Finally, the EMS sends recommendations to the users about how they can optimise their energy usage. It may suggest that they install new appliances or change their habits. The cloud-based nature of the software makes it possible to share these suggestions with other users.
Source: Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock
It&#;s also essential to note the importance of incorporating both state-of-art hardware (power meters, HVAC controllers) with the right software platform (energy manager) to deploy a well-designed Energy Management System for your business.
What are the benefits of an Energy Management System?
There are many reasons you should consider investing in a proper Energy Management System; the right software can also be a game changer for handling your energy usage efficiency. Here are some benefits to consider:
One example is the reduction of CO2 emissions through the optimisation of lighting. If you have several lights installed throughout your office, you can set them to switch on only when needed. This way, you'll avoid wasting electricity, thus reducing your carbon footprint.
To improve comfort levels, you can use smart thermostats to adjust temperature settings depending on the season. You can also save money by turning off air conditioning units when rooms are empty.
An Energy Management Software can help with the productivity of employees. By setting up automatic alerts, you can notify staff members when their equipment needs maintenance. This way, you won't have to worry about forgetting to schedule repairs.
We have talked a lot about the optimisation provided by Energy Management Software, but to be more concise, let's make it clear that these systems give you real-time insight into everything related to managing electricity. They are, therefore, a vital component of any production line: they improve quality, increase productivity, and simplify operations.
Energy Data Management Systems allow you to monitor and control access to critical areas such as offices, warehouses, factories, etc. They can even be connected to alarm systems to ensure safety and security.
- Ensure compliance with regulations
EMS can ensure that you meet the requirements of various regulatory bodies. In addition, they can help you comply with local laws regarding energy consumption. For example, the laws governing the installation of solar panels require you to keep records of the amount of power generated by each panel. An Energy Management Software will help you do this efficiently.
An automated solution for managing electricity usage at any scale will enable companies to implement sustainable business practices. This will help your organisation to get "green" certifications and get closer towards fulfilling its ESG policies.
What is the purpose of ISO ?
The ISO certification is a standard designed to promote energy management in organisations. It defines best practice guidelines for measuring, reducing and reporting energy use.
It was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), a non-governmental international body that develops standards for products and services around the world.
The aim of ISO is to encourage businesses to adopt energy management solutions. In other words, it aims to make sure that all companies have access to tools that allow them to measure, reduce and report their energy use. Not to mention, the certification can help to cement the companies reputation as a credible operation.
So, to get such recognition, you must choose carefully which energy management software will play an important role in saving energy in your business.
Energy Management Software Companies to look out for
Sustainably reducing energy costs has become a core business endeavour of a lot of startups, and there are several notable companies trying to solve this problem by offering different kinds of products and services.
Here we list seven companies that are providing potential products that could positively affect the energy management systems industry.
Hello Energy, for example, offers a cloud-based energy management software that helps property managers save money while improving their comfort level, and lowering carbon emissions. In , the startup raised USD$ 1 million from a deal led by Enfuro Ventures.
Parity is another company in the venture capitalists&#; spotlight, having raised USD$8 million in a series B funding in . The company uses machine learning algorithms to predict future energy needs and then optimises energy usage based on these predictions.
Energy management software startups like Hello Energy and Parity are helping to improve the efficiency of our homes and buildings. They are also making it easier for us to monitor and control our energy consumption.
Why is energy management necessary?
There are several reasons why energy management is so important. We've outlined in this article the benefits of having a structured energy management system, including the costs saved, increased efficiency and sustainability goals achieved. And when everything is powered by a trusted and robust software, things become much easier.
But, know this, the necessity of energy management is not only about saving money but also about protecting the environment. By using less energy, we are able to reduce our carbon footprint and help the planet.
In addition to that, energy management is essential because it allows us to track how much energy we consume and where it comes from. This way, we can find ways to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.
Challenges to implementing an Energy Management System
Uncertainty is an inevitable part of any smart grid. There may be unexpected delays due to unpredictable human behaviour, erratic Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) driving patterns, weather conditions and intermittency in sources.
Also, ensuring the security and privacy of customer data needs to be a crucial part of your energy management strategy.
However, one of the biggest challenges with implementing a whole system powered by hardware and software for energy efficiency is the time required to set up and deploy it. The results may not be immediate.
That is why you will want a skilled workforce to help you keep up with the latest trends in technology. But not only do you need to look for the best, but also for the most precise. That is because every Energy Management Software has its nuances, and they can work as a centralised, a decentralised and a hierarchical system.
Centralised approach
A centralised Energy Management System is a single point of contact for all customers. It gathers information from multiple devices and sensors, and provides a unified interface for managing energy usage.
This type of system is usually implemented through a cloud-based platform. In other words, it&#;s a web application that runs on servers located somewhere else beyond the physical location of the device.
This means that the server is always connected to the Internet, making it possible to access it from anywhere.
Centralised systems are very useful if you have a large number of users who share the same account.
For example, if you run a hotel chain, you could use a centralised system to manage the energy usage of each room. You would then be able to see how many guests are staying at each room, and whether there are any unusual spikes in energy consumption.
You could even send alerts to the front desk if someone starts using more electricity than usual.
Decentralised approach
A decentralised Energy Management System is a distributed network of devices that communicates directly with each other. Each device acts like a node in the network having autonomous control capability, and communicating with other nodes via wireless communication protocols such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
In this case, the user doesn&#;t necessarily need to log into a central website to view their energy usage. Instead, they can simply connect their smartphone or tablet to the network and receive real-time updates about their energy usage.
This kind of Energy Management System works well when you have a small number of users who don't share the same account. For example, if you own a home where you live alone, you might install a decentralised EMS so that you can monitor your energy usage without having to log into a central site.
Hierarchical approach
The hierarchical approach is similar to the decentralised approach, but it adds an extra layer of security. This allows you to create different levels of access depending on the authority you give certain users.
For example, you could allow managers to view data about individual employees, while allowing supervisors to view data about entire departments. This way, you can ensure that sensitive information is protected.
Choosing the best approach to manage your energy
Every Energy Management System approach has its benefits and purpose for a specific business. But, we can use some enlightenment from the industry to help guide our thinking when working with the hypothetical pros and cons of each model.
Source: Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock
We can summarise these points by saying that centralised systems has global optimisations and therefore lower costs than decentralised systems. However, decentralised systems has lower computational burdens and lower response times than centralised systems.
The decentralised systems have better reliability, but they are not well-suited for macrogrids. And when selecting a hierarchical approach, you must be aware that the complexity of implementation of this type of system is high.
All these systems being put forward require you to get skilled people onto the team. However, there aren't enough skilled people available as we face a serious tech talent scarcity in today's market. To counter this problem, you need to consider partnering up with experienced professionals.
Find the best tech talent to improve your energy efficiency
You will need experts who can provide the best solutions for your business. If you don't have enough time or resources to do this yourself, you should consider work with an outsourcing partner.
And that's exactly why we are here. Airswift is a leading company in providing the best STEM professionals for your business. With us, you can have an efficient workforce who have the skills needed to manage a proper energy management system.
We have more than 60 offices worldwide and over 9,000 contractors. Our team can deliver the highest quality of service and is prepared to handle all kinds of projects and challenges. Learn more about our services and find the talent that combined with your business strategy, will put you ahead of the competition.
Want more information on energy management software solution? Feel free to contact us.
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