Energy
Metering is the anwer PDF Print E-mail
Written by Dan Radford, Managing Director, Parasense, 2006   
By implementing a truly effective aM&T strategy, facilities managers could reduce the whole life costing of buildings and increase their capital value. So how can energy metering help achieve these goals? And more importantly, what is the optimum type of system? Ask any facilities manager to name a hot topic for 2006 and energy metering is sure to be at the top of the list. With unprecedented energy prices showing no signs of abating and the raft of legislation being rolled out over the coming years, implementing energy-saving initiatives is no longer optional. Automatic monitoring and targeting (aM&T) is emerging as a feasible solution to realise measurable results fast.

Energy metering is set to play a key role as facilities managers deal with legislative changes to energy regulations and increased carbon reduction targets to combat climate change. While some businesses already have monitoring systems in place, many are not so well prepared, leaving finance directors facing budget shortfalls. The need to identify energy saving projects with responsive paybacks has become a priority.

Legislation overview

Looking at an overview of what the legislation involves, it firstly applies to all new and existing dwellings and non-dwellings. Each category will have to comply with specific benchmarks and provide an energy performance certificate showing compliance. All new buildings over 1,000m2 must incorporate Automatic Meter Reading (AMR), based on the current meter requirements, to provide detailed information on energy performance. This encompasses the total consumption of all metered utilities - gas, electricity, oil and liquid petroleum gas. These figures will be measured against published benchmarks based on a notional building of comparable size, occupancy, lighting and temperature.

The regulations also state that new air conditioned buildings will have a target of improving energy/carbon performance by 28 per cent. The installation of aM&T can provide a 5 per cent discount together with further allowances for maintaining an efficient power factor. The incentives are there - an aM&T system is the most efficient way to capture accurate data while satisfying the legal requirements.

How it works

The changes are a positive move toward the conservation of fuel and power, and are essential for maximum energy efficiency. Not only does aM&T improve the accuracy of the data generated, but exception reporting informs all relevant parties with instant alerts of fluctuations in consumption. By pinpointing the precise location of a problem building engineers can rapidly resolve it before it develops into a costly situation.

Because data is collected on half hour intervals, a holistic picture of site activity in real time is created, leading to immediate quantifiable energy savings potential - there is no need to wait until the end of the month when the bill arrives to recognise questionable fluctuations in usage.

In the case of multi-site operations, the sheer volume of data can be so unwieldy that traditional reporting methods make accurate analysis almost impossible. aM&T systems provide the means to measure and analyse this energy usage easily and efficiently. Data is collected by the monitors and processed by sophisticated software into easy-to-read reports. These can be programmed to filter and format the relevant information to the right people, eliminating the mountains of superfluous data usually associated with monitoring and controls systems.

aM&T systems are also useful in managing operational performance. The time span from the initial alarm being raised to the fault being rectified can be used for KPI performance reviews of in-house or outsourced maintenance contracts. This may be seen as another tool to trip up the unsuspecting contractor, but when used effectively it can provide data that aids in reducing costs involved with callouts through effective pre-planned maintenance.

Among the various methods of gathering data from remote sites, the Internet Protocol (IP) addressable system is an increasingly preferred option to achieve 'smart' building management. This approach allows quick and easy analysis of information by using the Internet as an existing network. Similar to the Windows operating system, IP addressable systems standardise the communication between building functions, meaning that the air conditioning and heating, IT and security and safety systems can all share the same network without a language barrier. In addition, all functions can be fed into one central device to monitor energy usage and refrigerant leak detection. Not only is it a neater, more streamlined configuration, it dramatically increases the quantity and speed of data traffic.

Choosing a system

So what type of energy monitoring system is most appropriate for your business? Before making any investment of this kind, it is important to evaluate the building's needs to determine what kind of system would be most appropriate. It is not enough to select a system that simply meets the legislative requirements without considering other features that could bring added benefits.

Instead, look for a scalable model that is suitable for the particular site and offers a cost-effective solution. A good supplier should discuss all options and make site-specific recommendations. It is also highly recommended to trial the equipment first to find out how it works in your environment and measure the actual results before making a final decision.

To obtain the maximum benefit from whatever system is implemented, it is essential to involve all relevant parties from the outset. Before embarking on an energy savings project, be sure to clearly define the energy monitoring strategy and its objectives, including how the meters operate, how to analyse the data properly and who is responsible for overseeing what area of the project.

Long-term benefits

For those organisations that have already embraced energy metering, the rewards are wide-ranging and substantial. The manufacturer Kaysersberg Plastics is a prime example of a large company that is achieving its energy reduction targets and has generated significant cost savings by using an energy monitoring system. Kaysersberg Plastics installed its system following a detailed risk assessment of the plant and production area, highlighting just how crucial it is to have accurate figures to monitor energy effectively.

On a global level, there is no doubt that the information gained from energy monitoring can help operators run more energy efficient premises. It can also push forward business decisions that will benefit a company's profit margin and the payback period of the system.

You can't manage what you can't measure. All indicators point to the fact that metering and monitoring has become a reality for businesses today. Through implementing a system of continuous monitoring, optimisation and exception reporting, a huge amount of time, money and aggravation can be saved.

The long-term goal is ongoing savings and, with the right solution, an initial outlay could be recovered several times over. By embracing the regulations and understanding a site's energy usage, not only will savings be achieved today but buildings will be run better into the future.

About the author
Dan Radford is responsible for establishing the strategic direction of Parasense in the UK and driving the sales activity across its range of environmental products, which includes refrigerant, energy and temperature monitoring systems. Please visit www.parasense.co.uk
 
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