It’s no secret that energy management systems (EMS) have helped many businesses save money and become more sustainable over the past few years. But just because this technology has become increasingly popular doesn’t mean that choosing the right system will be straightforward. In fact, what makes a successful EMS? Does it offer advanced features? How about compatibility with other third-party products? To answer these questions and more, let’s look at five characteristics that make an EMS truly stand out.
1. Real-Time Reporting and Energy Analysis
To be effective, the energy management system must provide real-time data so that you can monitor energy consumption as it happens. The system must also be able to analyze the data so that you can identify trends and problem areas. For example, suppose your water pump uses more electricity than it should during specific hours on certain days. In that case, the system will alert you to this anomaly and help you understand what might have caused the high consumption.
If something is wrong with the appliance, it can automatically shut off or adjust its settings accordingly. Even better, you can decide if it’s time to replace old appliances before they break down completely. An excellent energy management system is good at predicting when utility bills will increase based on past patterns and setting up alerts for them. That way, you won’t be caught off guard by sudden jumps in usage, which could ultimately lead to financial stress. You can talk to Ontario Wholesale Energy experts for consistent and efficient energy cost savings.
2. Scalability and Flexibility
A sound energy management system should allow you to quickly scale up or down to meet the needs of your business. It should be able to handle both small and large loads without issue. Additionally, it should be able to handle both short-term and long-term projects without a problem.
Also, a flexible energy management system will allow you to use all forms of renewable energy and non-renewable sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and oil. That way, you won’t be stuck using only one fuel source, which could be costly over time.
3. Should Integrate Seamlessly with Your System
An excellent energy management system (EMS) will complement your facility’s other systems nicely. It should be able to talk to your building automation system (BAS) and access the data it needs without too much trouble. A quality EMS will also have an open API that allows it to interface with other software platforms you might be using.
Without efficiency in an energy management system, electricity might not make it from point A to point B because there isn’t enough available power at either end. You want your whole process to work seamlessly, so everything runs smoothly and efficiently! You want an EMS that integrates well with the other tools and programs, so it doesn’t become another puzzle you need to solve.
4. Should Provide for a Communication Framework
A successful energy management system should provide a communication framework between all stakeholders. That will ensure everyone gets necessary information on time and works together to meet energy goals. The communication framework should include a robust management information system to collect, store and analyze energy data. That will help integrate all facets of your organization, from operations to human resources.
A communication network within the energy management system will also offer support and deliver instant alerts when there are issues with an energy source. External communication infrastructure is necessary for transmitting and receiving critical alerts about changes in demand or supply levels, power outages,s or other emergencies at remote locations. Power outages are a particular concern for any operation where uptime is essential, so an effective energy management system must have robust notification procedures.
5. Should Be Easy to Understand and Use
An efficient energy management system should be easy for employees to understand and use. It should have a straightforward interface that is easy to navigate and provide employees with the information they need to make informed decisions about their energy usage. It also needs to be reliable, so you know what you’re getting when you buy it.
If an employee has to call tech support regularly, the system isn’t successful. The last thing an energy manager wants is to spend more time on software than actually solving problems. Your business finances should also be able to afford the system without draining the accounts.
Conclusion
A successful energy management system should provide accurate and timely data. The design should be user-friendly and allow for easy data entry and retrieval, whereas the building operators should be able to generate informative and actionable reports. If you need to expand or reduce production, the system should be flexible and scalable to accommodate the user’s needs. It should be affordable and offer a good return on investment. However, you need to identify a reputable wholesale energy company to help you solve your energy consumption and sourcing challenges to achieve all these benefits.