The True Benefits of Smart Buildings

By implementing strategic energy management practices, facilities can optimize their energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and contribute to a greener future.

Around 80% of the costs of a building are incurred during the utilization phase. A large part of this expenditure is incurred through energy consumption. It is no surprise that facilities consume a substantial amount of energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and powering equipment. However, many facilities suffer from energy waste, inefficient systems, and outdated practices, leading to unnecessary expenses and an increased environmental footprint. This is where energy management comes into play: by actively monitoring, controlling, and optimizing energy usage, facilities can significantly reduce their energy consumption and associated costs.

In addition, energy management plays a vital role in supporting sustainability goals. Indeed, the global drive towards a low-carbon future requires a shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy usage. Facilities embracing energy management practices will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources, and mitigating climate change.

Implementing effective energy management practices brings several benefits for facilities such as:

• Cost Savings: By identifying and addressing energy waste, optimizing systems, and adopting energy-efficient technologies, facilities can experience substantial cost savings, which can then be reinvested in other areas or allocated to the facility’s infrastructure improvement.
• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: By analyzing energy usage data, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing targeted improvements, you can streamline operations and enhance the overall efficiency of your plant.
• Environmental Sustainability: Facilities have a responsibility to minimize their environmental impact. Energy management plays a crucial role in this regard, allowing facilities to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and contribute to a cleaner and greener future.
  
  

In the digital age, harnessing the full potential of energy management in facilities requires more than just implementing energy-saving technologies and practices. It necessitates connecting the dots and breaking down data silos within the facility’s operations. Facilities generate vast amounts of data from various sources, including sensors, meters, and energy management systems. However, without proper integration and analysis, this data remains fragmented and underutilized.

By embracing data integration and breaking down silos, facility managers can gain holistic insights into energy consumption patterns, identify inefficiencies, and make informed decisions to drive efficiency.

Integrating an Energy Management System (EMS) with other facility management tools, such as maintenance management and occupancy tracking, enables a comprehensive view of the facility’s energy performance and allows for targeted optimization strategies. By connecting the dots and breaking down data silos, facilities can unlock the true power of energy management and pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient future.

Facilities often have multiple systems and devices that generate energy-related data, such as smart meters, HVAC controls, lighting controls, and submetering devices. Breaking down data silos involves aggregating and centralizing this data into a unified platform or dashboard.

Once data silos are broken down and energy data is integrated, advanced analytics techniques and predictive modelling can be applied to uncover hidden patterns, anomalies, and optimization opportunities. By analyzing historical energy consumption data, trends can be identified, future energy demands can be predicted, and the energy usage pattern can be optimized.

Connecting the dots between energy data and operational processes allows a continuous monitoring and feedback loops. Real-time energy monitoring combined with intelligent alerts and notifications empower a proactive approach with immediate actions to ensure that energy efficiency measures are continuously evaluated and adjusted, leading to sustained improvements over time.

Breaking down data silos and connecting the dots requires collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders involved in facility management. This includes facility managers, energy managers, operations teams, maintenance staff, and IT departments, among others. By fostering a culture of data sharing, transparency, and collaboration, facilities can leverage the collective expertise and insights of their teams to identify energy-saving opportunities, troubleshoot issues, and implement effective energy management strategies.

Effective energy management holds immense potential for facilities, enabling them to unlock significant cost savings, enhance operational efficiency, and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Embracing energy management not only benefits the bottom line but also reinforces the facility’s commitment to a greener future. The time to harness the power of energy management in facilities is now, and the rewards are significant for both – facility owners and the planet.

The long version of the article can be accessed here