FACILITIES MANAGEMENT


ADDRESSING ENERGY CONSUMPTION NOW AND IN THE FUTURE


Matthew Margetts, director of sales and marketing at Smarter Technologies, looks into the benefits of deploying smart building energy management systems


however, is the rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues. Driven by demands from consumers, investors and stakeholders, as well as regulatory change, ESG is reshaping the way that businesses operate. According to a 2020 report by the World Health


E


Organisation (WHO), we need to decarbonise and transform our cities and buildings. Although this is complex, digitalisation is a significant enabler of the carbon-reduction revolution. The transformative potential of digitalisation


became even more significant during the COVID- 19 pandemic, which illustrated how modern technology can provide a substitute for in-person tasks and interactions – and often a more efficient one at that. Similarly, embracing smart technology can help businesses, buildings, homes and cities reduce and optimise energy consumption.


ENERGY EFFICIENCY Sustainable energy efficiency aims to minimise the amount of energy used without hindering economic growth or compromising our quality of life. This can include: • Avoiding energy losses • Recycling and reusing various types of waste • Reducing energy demand • Using renewable sources.


ENERGY MONITORING AND CONTROL Deploying a smart building energy management system allows a building and its equipment to become more efficient and more environmentally friendly. Notably, the implementation of energy management solutions provides building and facility managers with comprehensive data that


www.energymanagementmag.co.uk


nergy conservation and carbon reduction is a major goal of the 21st Century. Added to this,


allows them to understand their current energy consumption and how it can be reduced and optimised in the future. The role of an energy management system is to:


• Gather information from various energy sources and users


• Monitor energy, demand and power quality • Analyse multivariable and single-variable data to identify problems and trends


• Provide alerts if energy consumption goes beyond set parameters or if any failures in mechanical or electrical systems are detected


• Integrate with the control systems to enable automation


• Identify energy wastage • Benchmark the building’s energy consumption • Facilitate effective energy visualisation and analytics


• Provide data dashboards and trends for energy consumption


• Enable effective decision making.


FIVE KEY BENEFITS OF A SMART ENERGY MONITORING SYSTEM 1. Reduce energy consumption for both environmental and economic benefits


2. Reduce running costs through smart automation and control


3. Minimise maintenance and repair costs by picking up potential problems quickly


4. Improve the conditions and comfort levels for users of the building


5. Demonstrate ESG values. By monitoring energy supply 24/7, an energy


monitoring system allows managers to reduce unnecessary wastage. For example, if excess solar energy is being produced but isn’t being used, there may be scope for the facility to


reduce its reliance on the grid. Energy management software collects all


data into an online (often cloud-based) portal, presenting facility managers with the opportunity to manage their energy remotely through any connected device. This allows them to maintain control over high-voltage equipment and complex building operations from anywhere in the world. Instant alerts can notify managers of any irregular power supply issues or other energy discrepancies, allowing them to respond quickly when needed. In addition, automation removes many manual management tasks.


ACHIEVING NET ZERO An energy management system has an important role to play in helping managers work towards net zero in both a micro and macro capacity. IoT technology has become a business change


accelerator. Facility and building managers of today can now employ smart technology to achieve net zero objectives. Armed with actionable data, they will be able to address energy consumption and efficiency both now and in the future.


Smarter Technologies https://smartertechnologies.com/


Matthew Margetts ENERGY MANAGEMENT - Spring 2022 31


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36