In recent years, we have been highly aware of the impact we have on the world around us, and, just as importantly, the impact on our wallet. Part of understanding the impact we have on both of these things is understanding in what ways we use energy. If we can identify what ways we use energy, we are closer to knowing the ways we are wasting energy.
A CASE FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Our desire to understand our energy consumption has permeated our entire culture. Many companies have hired Energy Managers, who’s sole purpose, is to understand the energy consumption of the company, and figure out how to make it more efficient, and save money. You cannot manage what you do know.
LED LIGHTING
If your facility is more than 7 years old, and still using the light fixtures it was originally fitted with, then you are probably wasting energy. LED’s are one of the best and most efficient ways to reduce the energy you waste, allowing for more productive applications of it. Metering, is a must, prior to a lighting retrofit, as well as post-retrofit, to make sure you design a plan that is optimal for you, and to verify the anticipated results.
LOAD BALANCING ISSUES
Another waste that requires metering to understand and identify, is a load balance issue. Commercial buildings are typically connected to a 3-phase power delivery system, and to an imbalance of the loads on each phase, many companies are losing 15% or more in energy costs. The need to balance the loads is a real concern that energy monitoring can help you fix.
IMPROPER SCHEDULING FOR DEMAND SEQUENCING
Also known as Demand Response is referring to the quantity of power-consuming devices you have that require a certain demand to either start-up or continue running. Demand Sequencing is a way to schedule equipment that requires demand in a way that they do not overlap with each other, creating a much higher demand than is actually required.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT RETRO COMMISSIONING
Retro Commissioning is the act of commissioning already existing equipment and building functions so they perform at a higher more efficient capacity.
UNRESOLVED POWER QUALITY ISSUES
Power Quality is a very difficult subject to understand and correct. In reality, almost all buildings have some type of power quality issue that needs to be addressed to use energy more efficiently. There are some devices out there, but they are inadequate for what needs to happen. They may provide some small benefit for a short time, but more often than not quickly overheat and die.
HOW TO GAIN CONTROL OF YOUR ENERGY COSTS
The only way to gain this control is through real-time metering. You need to know what you consume, you consume it, and that will tell you why. You need to know how you will fix any issues you have, and you need to be able to have the confidence your actions are having the intended effect.
Stop Wasting Energy: THE FUTURE OF ENERGY METERING IS NOW
We live in an unprecedented time in the world’s history, where not even the sky is the limit. We are capable of finding and solving so many problems that would have been impossible in times past. Please, read our E-book The 5 Ways your Business is Wasting Energy, and learn more about these important topics, and how you can learn to save money, and be more efficient.