5 Signs You Need an Energy Management System

Today’s businesses rely and depend on energy like never before. From industrial manufacturing plants to commercial buildings and multi-site retailers, our businesses are powered by . . . well . . . power. For this fundamental necessity, we allocate significant budget while we spend time and resources to better understand (and reduce) our consumption (and waste).

A device-level Energy Management System (EMS) provides an innovative solution to better understanding the performance of devices and systems and their energy consumption, as well as gaining insights into energy savings, operational efficiencies and sustainability.

But, how do you know if your company can benefit from such a system? You may already have some type of energy management solution deployed, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t benefit from device level visibility.

Here are five signs that your business is ready

1. Your Utility Bill is a Surprise

If your monthly power bill surprises you, you are definitely ready for an energy management system. Monthly bills do not give you the visibility you need. Seeing the total owed to the power company does not empower you with data about your systems or how to optimize them.

With the actionable insights provided by an EMS, you can benchmark and predict your energy costs, optimize and reduce waste, and increase operational efficiencies throughout your enterprise. More importantly, you gain unmatched visibility into your energy spend.

2. You Suspect Off Hours Consumption

Wasted while no one is working, a device-level energy management system could help you optimize your energy efficiency and effect behavioral change within your organization.

Operating a large building or enterprise is not just about turning the lights off when you leave at night. By tracking the energy consumption of each device, you can detect things like air conditioners working to cool offices in which no one is present, lights left on off hours, LCD screens that use full power in stores that are closed, and heavy machinery that is left on during the night in manufacturing plants.

By gaining the granular visibility into these systems during off hours, you can optimize your system settings and benefit from savings that will ensure ROI very quickly.

3. You Need Data to Support Sustainability Programs

Corporate sustainability programs have a positive PR value and have been shown to create loyal customer advocates. But to report to stakeholders about energy efficiency and other social responsibility endeavors, you need data and benchmarks. If you do not have this information, you definitely need an EMS.

With a device-level EMS installed in all locations on all devices, you can compare devices, systems, and locations to historical data, comparable systems, and industry standards – and report to customers and shareholders the efficiency measures that have been implemented.

4. Your BMS is Overriden

Your Building Management System (BMS) is a great tool that controls the systems that consume energy. With it, you can time the lights to turn off at night, control the temperature setting on HVAC systems, and more. However, many companies experience lots of overrides on their BMS. If your BMS is overridden often, a device level EMS is for you. By coupling a BMS with a device-level energy management system, you gain full visibility into usage, consumption, and waste. Your EMS can alert you to BMS overrides and to sub-par settings. With its insights, you can better configure your existing BMS to work for your ever-changing needs.

Utilities, jurisdictions, and governments offer energy efficiency programs for companies. Participating may include rebates or refunds. If you are not participating in these kinds of programs, an EMS is for you. The data on energy efficiencies and savings will help you become eligible for certain programs.

5. You Aren’t Taking Advantage of Energy Efficiency Programs

Are you experiencing any of these signs?

1. Your utility bill is a surprise2. You suspect off-hours consumption3. You need data to support sustainability programs4. Your BMS is overriden5. You aren’t taking advantage of energy efficiency programs

Sign up for a free energy management consultation with Panoramic Power today