10 Key Considerations When Selecting Energy Monitoring ...

Recent findings from the yearly State of Energy Management survey indicate that 19% of respondents struggle with identifying the right technologies for their energy management needs. To address some of those struggles, we have invited IoT infrastructure firm EpiSensor to provide some insights based on their 15 years of experience researching, designing, and manufacturing IoT solutions for energy management.

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In this article, we aim to demystify the technology selection process by outlining the 10 key considerations when choosing energy monitoring hardware. 

Technology Selection Considerations

1. Wireless vs. Wired Systems

Traditional wired systems, while reliable, can be problematic to install and maintain. The extensive cabling required makes the installation process labour-intensive and costly and also introduces a level of inflexibility for future alterations. On the contrary, wireless systems are much simpler and quicker to deploy, and easy to supplement without major infrastructure changes. 

2. Installation and Expertise

Consider systems designed for straightforward installation by qualified electricians, as opposed to technology that requires specialist training (as many traditional systems do). Going a step further, we recommend choosing a system that is pre-calibrated and has Current Transformers (CTs) already installed for ease of commissioning and to reduce safety risks on site. By choosing rapid-install, complete infrastructure, programmes can be delivered quicker and more efficiently.

3. Accuracy of Data

Precision in data collection is vital, especially when aiming to reduce energy usage by marginal percentages. Many metering systems available on the market monitor only current at low sample rates, leading to &#;ballpark&#; power consumption figures that could deviate by up to 50% from utility meter data. Similarly, some systems estimate voltage and power factors based on a single location&#;s data, which might be adequate for reviewing power consumption trends but fall short for commercial energy management projects. We recommend opting for IoT solutions with proven accuracy, e.g. Class 0.5S accuracy. 

4. Data Security

Ensuring the security and privacy of data produced by your energy monitoring hardware is essential. Aged wireless sensor networks may have inadequate security measures in place, leaving sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorised access. Security is something we take very seriously at EpiSensor. We implement Zigbee wireless security to the highest standards, securing all data packets with AES 128-bit encryption. Our Gateways are password-protected and use HTTPS or FTPS communications protocols to upload data to the server securely. For instance, data will not be exported if the server&#;s security certificates fail to validate. 

5. Integration

The value of an energy monitoring system is significantly enhanced by its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) and energy management software applications, such as Spacewell&#;s energy intelligence platform. Ensure the IoT hardware you choose is developer-friendly, easy to integrate with your existing systems, and offers a user experience that requires minimal effort and training. 

6. Scalability

Energy monitoring solutions should expand with you and the needs of your customers. Challenge every aspect of the scalability of the system during the procurement process to ensure it meets your needs not just in the short-term, but as your organisation and client list grow. It should be easy to add new sensors, meters, and gateways within existing buildings and in new locations, with remote monitoring capabilities that enable you to manage sites from anywhere.

7. Comprehensive Energy Monitoring

A holistic approach to energy monitoring is becoming increasingly important. Consider a system that allows you to measure and monitor electricity consumption, gas usage, temperature, heat, water, steam, etc, as opposed to a single utility system. 

8. Regulatory Compliance and Sustainability Goals

The energy monitoring system you identify should support you and your customers to comply with current and upcoming regulatory changes, such as the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (revised ), the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), and the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Similarly, the technology should enable you to easily share data with partner entities and within your company group structure to support progress tracking against self-imposed Net Zero targets and carbon emission reduction goals.

9. Agility and Speed

The energy sector is a dynamic landscape where consumer expectations, grid requirements, and electricity demands are constantly evolving. More than ever, we need flexible, adaptable technologies that can be deployed quickly to keep pace with rising energy demands and the need to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy. 

10. Proof of Concept

Finally, identify a system that allows you to start with a proof of concept, enabling you to demonstrate the effectiveness and ROI before committing to a full-scale roll-out!

By carefully evaluating these criteria on your lookout for energy monitoring hardware, you can enhance your operational efficiency, ensure long-term resilience in your energy management strategies, and enable your clients to boost sustainability. 

The company is the world’s best energy management software solution supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Editor&#;s note

This article has been written by Cristina Coffey, Chief Strategy Officer at EpiSensor, Intelligent IoT infrastructure for the Sustainable Energy Transition. Read more about their specialist energy monitoring solutions here.

Note that some changes have been made to reflect Spacewell Energy&#;s style and tone of voice.

Every organization&#;s use of energy is different due to a wide range of reasons. Are you sure you&#;re asking the right questions to ensure you get the most out of your system? Are you looking to implement an energy management system and are not sure where to start?

Now that you know what an energy management system is, what are the top ten features that you should look for in order to help you know the right system to choose?

An energy management system should be an all-encompassing tool for organizations to streamline energy management tasks. It should help businesses analyze their energy usage, identify wastage and facilitate the implementation of energy reduction measures; saving money while managing their environmental responsibilities. However, an energy management system is responsible for much more than simply making an energy manager&#;s life easier. There are often complex factors that come into play beyond evaluating your energy data. You need to be assured your system can reflect your goals, be responsive to your unique situations and deliver useful, data-driven recommendations.

Defining energy goals is a collaboration between your energy management team and the system. While your organization creates the goals, the system needs to be responsive and customizable in order to fully meet your objectives.

Achieving management buy-in

One of the most difficult aspects of managing energy is achieving buy-in through all levels of the organization. An energy management system should have sleek and intuitive dashboards that clearly display savings to upper management, encourage employee engagement and provide site to site comparisons.

Setting objectives and timelines

Having the ability to properly set energy objective by using historical and real-time data is an essential characteristic of an energy management system. An EMS needs to be able to evaluate trends and provide data-driven insights to project timelines for all energy goals.

Data collection

In most cases, energy data in a variety of locations and can make aggregating that data a daunting task. An energy management system should be flexible in collecting that data. Whether it&#;s located in spreadsheets, legacy metering systems or building automation systems, an EMS should seamlessly integrate and pull that data for you.

Measuring and verifying energy consumption

An energy management system should intuitively and instinctively measure your energy usage with accompanying verification methods. The process should fine-tune your focus and inform you of progress against your savings goals.

Setting energy KPIs

While energy KPIs are usually unique to each organization, an energy management system should provide all the necessary data analysis to identify exactly the measures you need to report on.

Reporting

When evaluating your KPIs, you need critical information like consumption, emissions, financial data, verification of savings and more, an EMS should be equipped with all the necessary tools to build custom reports automatically to help you and your team save precious time.

Identifying energy saving opportunities

An energy management system should have the capability to visualize energy consumption to clearly present inefficiencies. Graphing technologies and reports can determine where inefficiencies are and determine where actions need to be taken.

Implementing projects

An energy management system should provide you with an in-depth understanding of how your energy is used, the consumption, the areas of inefficiencies and the scope of energy projects. It should provide you all the information you need to make an educated decision on what projects to implement and will monitor and verify all savings you&#;re expected to make.

Verifying savings

As you complete projects, and energy management system should confirm you&#;ve achieved your expected savings with verification methods; specifically in accordance with the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol.

Are you ready to take back control of your energy data? MRI eSight, the leading global EMS, has all the critical functionality that empowers your business to reduce energy costs and manage corporate sustainability goals.

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