Energy Management System

An energy management system helps organizations monitor, analyze, and optimize their energy consumption and usage. With an energy management system, businesses can track their energy consumption across facilities in real-time, identify areas of inefficiency, and implement strategies to reduce energy consumption and costs as well as a business’s carbon footprint. Energy management systems typically include energy management software and tools for energy monitoring and reporting, energy conservation measures, demand management, and energy efficiency analyses.

A comprehensive energy management solution allows businesses to manage and track all of their energy usage in one place. Here are a few examples of energy management systems.

1. Building Automation Systems (BAS): BAS is used to control and monitor HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems, lighting, and other building systems to optimize energy usage.
2. Energy Information Systems (EIS): EIS is an energy management system used to collect and analyze energy usage data from various sources like utility meters, submeters, and building automation systems.
3. Industrial Energy Management Systems (IEMS): IEMS is a system used to optimize energy usage in industrial facilities such as manufacturing plants, refineries, and chemical plants. It provides functionalities such as real-time energy monitoring, process optimization, and energy efficiency analysis.
4. Demand Response Systems (DRS): DRS is used by utilities to manage and control energy demand during peak periods by incentivizing customers to reduce their energy usage during these periods.
5. Energy Storage Systems (ESS): ESS can manage energy storage systems such as batteries and flywheels. It optimizes the use of stored energy to reduce peak demand and provide backup power during outages.
6. Accruent Energy Management Software: Accruent AOEM is a comprehensive energy management system that can help you address your most pressing energy and sustainability concerns while helping you manage and measure all your energy initiatives in one place.

Other examples include energy analytics software, smart grid management systems, and renewable energy management systems.

An Energy Management System (EMS) offers many advantages for organizations. First, it facilitates substantial cost savings by identifying and rectifying energy inefficiencies, contributing to enhanced financial sustainability. The real-time monitoring and optimization capabilities of an EMS lead to improved energy efficiency, reducing both operational expenses and environmental impact. Regulatory compliance is also streamlined through comprehensive tracking and reporting tools. In addition, an EMS’s operational visibility empowers informed decision-making, while its predictive maintenance capabilities minimize downtime and extend equipment life. Participation in demand response programs becomes feasible, offering potential financial incentives and supporting grid stability. EMS fosters a culture of environmental responsibility, positively impacting an organization's reputation, stakeholder relationships, and employee morale. Overall, an EMS is a strategic investment that aligns economic benefits with sustainable practices, bolstering operational resilience and corporate social responsibility.

An energy management system and a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system are both software systems used to monitor and manage industrial processes, but they have different purposes and functionalities.

Energy management systems are mainly focused on providing functionalities such as energy monitoring, conservation measures, demand management, and energy efficiency analysis. It is also used to optimize energy consumption and reduce costs in buildings, industrial facilities, and other energy-intensive operations.

SCADA, on the other hand, is a system used for real-time monitoring and control of industrial processes. Its features typically include data acquisition, process control, and alarms and notifications. SCADA is used to monitor and control various types of equipment and systems, such as pipelines, manufacturing plants, and power grids.

While both energy management systems and SCADA systems may include similar functionalities such as real-time monitoring and reporting, they have different focus areas. Energy management systems are focused on energy management, while SCADA is focused on industrial process control.

Overhead, especially utility bills, are a major portion of most businesses’ budgets and reducing those costs comes down to proper energy management. By becoming more energy efficient, businesses can also hit sustainability goals. Here are a few strategies for corporate energy management.

1. Conduct an energy audit: This is an important first step in developing an effective energy management strategy. An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of a facility's energy use that identifies areas of inefficiency.
2. Implement energy efficiency measures: Once inefficiencies have been identified through an energy audit, organizations can implement energy efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption. These measures can include upgrading to more efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and appliances, improving insulation and weather sealing, or implementing power management systems.
3. Implement an energy management system: While an energy audit is a great start, optimizing energy usage should be an ongoing effort. An EMS monitors energy consumption in real time and can help organizations identify areas of improvement on an ongoing basis.
4. Increase awareness and education: Educating employees and stakeholders about energy management can help create a culture of energy efficiency. Consider hosting regular training programs and energy-saving competitions, and commit to ongoing communication campaigns, including office signage that promotes energy-efficient behaviors.

Implementing these strategies can help organizations reduce their energy consumption, lower their energy costs, and improve their environmental sustainability.

Are you ready to optimize energy usage and cut costs with an energy management solution? Accruent has been helping organizations in the retail, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing industries monitor and improve their energy consumption to reduce their carbon footprint. Learn more about our top rated energy management software or check out this webinar to see how can you take control of your energy consumption (and costs) today.