VIEW FROM THE TOP
Peter Stockwell is managing director of Concept Energy Solutions
Unravel your energy data Keeping a close watch on energy-related data requires careful thought, but it is essential if a company is to maintain operational efficiency, writes Peter Stockwell
I
n an era when utility costs frequently appear in companies’ lists of top three operational expenses, a structured process of tracking and reacting to energy data is vital to help building managers and FMs identify excessive energy spend – and do something about it. Surprisingly, we find that this is far from being universally realised at present. We are in no doubt that many companies across different sectors are still not embracing the need for even basic management of their energy data. The current push for ESOS (the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) compliance has introduced us to many new clients and this has highlighted just how many businesses still do no more than rely on invoices (and perhaps periodically updated spreadsheets) to gather details of consumption. However, “information overload” is equally problematic. We work with companies that have had sub metering installed to gain a more granular picture of energy use - but all too often we find that this has not been supported by a decent metering strategy and the meter hierarchy may be incomplete or inconsistent, leading to misleading output data. With the cost of sub metering coming down, building operators should avoid the temptation of “saturation metering” where too much information can blur the picture. There are also issues around interpretation of, and reaction to, the data, meaning that the potential of the investment can never be realised. If the inhouse team does not have the knowledge and/or resources to sift through the data meaningfully, then it can easily become an issue that is continually overlooked until rising costs become visible and the damage is done. For all of these reasons, it makes sense for companies to think about adopting a full-circle approach to energy data – from the accruing and processing of information, through its interpretation, and on to developing a plan of action that enables energy usage to be optimised. By defining a considered and structured
Stockwell: 'many companies are still not embracing the need for even basic management of their energy data'
metering hierarchy, it is possible to see with clarity and confidence where, precisely, energy is being used, so that excessive consumption can be tackled in the right area. And when the strategic decision has been made to equip a building
From analysis to action: the potential of energy data • Review your data sources - do they give you a clear picture of your energy use? Sub meters can collect information on specific assets, helping you to identify immediate savings. • Is your data complete? A comprehensive audit will identify errors and gaps in information. • Do you have an efficient way of extracting the data? Consider an energy monitoring platform which enables the performance of building systems to be assessed in an efficient way. • Interpreting your data is key – an energy expert can help you understand the ‘where, when and why’ of energy use for each asset and site. • Data is only king if you act on it – engage with a provider who can recommend tangible, cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste – with clear costs and RoI.
with sub metering, then it is also necessary to have the facility to interpret the data. Modern software platforms go some way towards assisting with this, but from our experience there remains a need for “human intervention” and this is where the energy management consultant comes in. Site services managers and FMs may not have the time to interpret and respond to performance variation flagged via system alarms, so a well-trained energy bureau, with consultant input, can provide a valuable service supporting the on-site team with expert advice on minimizing excess usage and emissions quickly and effectively. Beyond “basic” energy management, there is a growing movement towards gathering more information on a building’s indoor environment - internal temperatures, CO2 levels, lux levels, and occupancy rates and so on - which is all highly relevant in the building energy management context. Software analysis is becoming increasingly sophisticated in this area, and can even make some of the decisions through automation and machine learning – this is highly valuable to building operators looking to maintain a healthy environment for occupants. However, in our view there remains a central role for the energy expert to work with the data, and data outputs, to ensure that occupant well-being and energy efficiency work in harmony with one another (improved air quality does not, for example, necessarily mean an increase in energy consumption). In these instances, wellbeing and energy efficiency opportunities can only reach their full potential with scrutiny from industry specialists. This is bound to become even more critical as expectations of energy efficiency and climate control increase, which underlines the value of engaging with a specialist who can interpret new data and support hard-pressed personnel. As both internal and external factors oblige companies to monitor their use of energy more effectively, it is certain to be the best way to keep sight of what by its very nature will always be a moving target. FEBRUARY 2020 | ENERGY IN BUILDINGS & INDUSTRY | 25
EIBI_0220_025(WAS29)_(M).indd 1
03/02/2020 15:12
