Imagine you’re about to race a car for the second time. You want to go faster than you did the first time. But the speedometer in the vehicle has been broken for a while. How are you going to know if you go faster?
It’s nearly impossible to improve on something unless you’re tracking progress. The same goes for better energy efficiency in commercial spaces. The answer? A working speedometer, aka power monitoring device, integrated into building automation. If you want to improve energy efficiency, which makes sense for your bottom line, occupant comfort, and environmental impact, then you’ll need to track energy usage.
One of the biggest reasons to implement power monitoring in your building automation system (BAS) is the real-time data you can collect, allowing for optimized control strategies and targeted adjustments. This sort of data-driven decision-making can significantly reduce energy consumption and operational costs.
Manufacturers or distributors of power monitoring equipment, such as Functional Devices, can provide more details and support to help you implement power monitoring in your BAS.
As an overview and checklist for how to improve energy efficiency and begin your power monitoring journey, here are five steps to help you get started:
1. Assess Your Building’s Energy Needs
First, lay the foundation for your power monitoring system by assessing your building’s current energy usage. Here’s a breakdown of what that might look like:
- Perform an energy audit across the BAS. Consider hiring a certified energy auditor. If you’re going the DIY route, pay attention to old or inefficient equipment, high-consuming energy hot spots, seasonal or daily fluctuations, AC/DC power supplies, plug loads, and utility bills.
- Compare energy usage to industry standards. See how you measure up to other facilities like yours. Use tools like Energy Star Portfolio Manager to determine your energy use intensity.
- Set energy efficiency goals. Establish energy-saving objectives and KPIs to guide the monitoring process. Consider SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (e.g., reduce energy consumption by 10 percent in 6 months).
- Create a report. Document your findings to serve as your roadmap.
Once you thoroughly assess your building’s unique needs, you’ll be better equipped to continue with the next steps.
2. Select Appropriate Power Monitoring Devices
Now for the fun part: determining what power monitoring equipment you need. Your BAS has many moving parts that can be tracked at different levels and with various hardware options.
Here are some of what you might be looking for:
- Smart energy meters and submeters. Useful for monitoring energy usage in specific areas or systems
- Smart sensors. Best for measuring at the granular level (e.g., plug loads or individual appliances)
- Data loggers. Necessary for recording and storing data for later analysis
- Advanced power quality meters. Cutting-edge meters designed for buildings with critical systems at risk for voltage fluctuations
These devices can monitor power consumption from an entire building to an individual circuit. How you set them up and what you want to monitor depends on the goals and objectives you defined in step one.
Whatever devices you decide to use, make sure they are A) able to integrate with existing systems and scale with future needs and B) compatible with your current BAS protocol (like BACnet). If you’re unsure, we recommend contacting professionals like you’ll find at Functional Devices to discuss your requirements.
3. Install and Integrate With BAS
Once you’ve selected the devices you need, it’s time to install and get them up and running as part of your building automation.
To connect powering monitoring devices to your BAS, follow manufacturer instructions for correct placement and wiring configurations (as needed). You’ll need to integrate devices with existing protocols, too. For example:
- Wired components. Configure device addresses and register mappings in your automation software.
- IoT-enabled devices. Link to cloud platforms or gateways.
- Protocol gateway. Install if devices and protocols are different and translation of data is needed.
Leverage the automation features of your BAS as well, setting up automated alerts, trend analysis, and reporting for your power monitoring devices.
4. Analyze Data and Identify Optimization Opportunities
Now, give yourself time to learn your new power monitoring system by revisiting what you did during step one: energy audit 2.0. Utilize data graphs and charts through dashboards and analytics tools to easily monitor real-time data.
Again, identify any patterns of inefficiencies, peak usage times, and unexpected anomalies. Based on your observations, refine your goals and action plan, including developing strategies for reducing waste (e.g., adjusting schedules or upgrading equipment). Then, begin taking those first steps toward enhancing your building’s energy efficiency.
5. Implement and Monitor Continuous Improvements
Finally, begin relying on your long-term power monitoring to inform your choices for improving your facility’s efficiency. This means performing regular checks of the devices, routinely pulling data and reports, and using them to implement energy-saving measures.
Data is only as good as someone interpreting it. Put the information your new power monitoring system is gathering to use and begin taking steps towards more sustainability and efficiency.
Monitor Energy Usage With a Power Meter Kit From Functional Devices
This blog describes a brief, bird's-eye view of implementing power monitoring in building automation for enhanced energy efficiency. To get the most out of your power monitoring system, you must assess current usage, select devices, install and integrate, reassess, perform regular audits, and implement your action plan.
Here at Functional Devices, we’re in the business of enhancing building automation. Explore our reliable and easy-to-use power monitoring equipment, which is available as a comprehensive kit to simplify installation. Start your energy efficiency journey with our professional guidance and monitoring technology, designed to work flawlessly with specially engineered current sensors and Rogowski coils. Reach out to us today to learn more. We’d love to chat!