FEATURE MONITORING & METERING SYSTEMS Optimising energy metering with data analytics
help facility managers: • Better understand how their buildings are performing
•Maximise the return on building management and metering investments
• Overcome training challenges • Reduce outsourced vendor management and costs The objective of Metering and Monitoring
is to help buildings reduce carbon emissions and make energy savings. However, the right tools are needed to uncover all opportunities, avoid risks, track progress against goals and verify success. It is with this in mind that Schneider
Poonam Walid, Power Monitoring Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric investigates the latest advanced range of metering and software systems that monitor, record and report a buildings energy usage
T
he current issue of creating a more sustainable, low carbon economy in the
UK is largely dominated by how we should generate energy in the future. Commercial buildings are responsible for 10 percent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and play a key role in helping the UK to meet its 2050 Climate Change Act targets. In this unstable economic climate, there is a huge amount to be gained from increasing energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Effective metering and monitoring gives owners and operators crucial information about how their buildings are performing. For example, an effective metering and
monitoring system is one with the capacity to get tenants, property managers, and owners involved in energy-efficiency measures. The ability to identify and quantify energy usage is often sufficient to bring about energy-saving changes in practices and behaviours, such as reducing waste and avoiding peak utility rates.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR DATA One key legislation driving metering and monitoring in the market is Part L of the Building Regulations. The Government has set higher standards than ever before for energy efficiency in both domestic and commercial buildings. As a result, the process of designing a building, and ensuring that it complies with Part L will become far more complex. Part L states that at least 90 percent of the estimated annual energy consumption
20 AUTUMN 2015 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT Figure 1:
Schneider Electric’s Power Monitoring Expert are an advanced range of metering and software systems that monitor, record and report a buildings energy use in order to help reduce energy costs and maximise efficiencies
of each fuel should be assigned to the various end-use categories (heating, lighting etc.). For example energy meters should be installed in all non–dwellings so that at least 90 percent of energy use can be calculated by category, e.g. lighting, heating etc. In buildings with a total useful floor area greater than 1000 m2, the metering system should enable automatic meter reading and data collection. To obtain this information, there is a need for software-based solutions and gateways that push data from the various metering devices to a single, accessible platform. This will enable companies to then analyse exactly where their energy consumption is being used most.
BENEFITS OF A GOOD TOOL Technology has become an important part of building management, as building management systems play an ever bigger role in how facility managers perform their jobs and operate buildings. Best-in-class software automatically
highlights trends in energy and equipment use, identifies faults, provides root-cause analysis, and prioritises opportunities for improvement based on cost, comfort, and maintenance impact. Data analytics software takes the additional step of interpreting the data – showing not just where but why inefficiencies occur. The combination of the right diagnostic data and expert engineering insight can
Electric developed its advanced energy intelligence technology. The company’s Power Monitoring Expert for large buildings and Gateway devices for small to medium size buildings are an advanced range of metering and software systems that monitor, record and report a buildings energy use in order to help reduce energy costs and maximise efficiencies. A PowerLogic system enables all stakeholders, from the CEO to facility and engineering managers, to respond quickly to potential problems. This is because the system gives users three options – information displayed in an Internet browser, information displayed on a specially designed system; or the choice to have a remote system that can be monitored and provide energy services to help make their business more efficient. It delivers the key performance indicators and analytics that are needed to strategically balance emissions, efficiency, reliability and cost.
MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES The combination of data analytics, managed services, and ongoing support from experienced building engineers can have a real impact on energy consumption, operational efficiency, occupant comfort, and the financial well-being of buildings. The right analytics solution will
proactively help facility managers achieve performance-based utility incentives and build a lower carbon footprint – all while driving a positive ROI, increasing portfolio value, and maximising investments. The UK Government is committed to reducing Carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and 40 percent of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions coming from the way our buildings are lit, heated and used. This means that how these buildings operate and consume power will need to change, and quickly.
Schneider Electric
www.schneider-electric.com 0870 608 608
/ ENERGYMANAGEMENT
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