What Is an Energy Management System & Should Your Business Have One?

The energy sector has long been a proponent of technological innovation – from the initial invention of renewable energy installers systems through to the modern day rollout of smart meters and Wi-Fi-controlled heating and power, the industry has continued to embrace technology as it evolves.

Whilst technology often solves a specific problem, there’s no single invention that can tackle the current energy crisis, where prices are soaring, and there’s more demand than ever for businesses to reduce carbon emissions.

Instead, multiple technologies can be integrated together to tackle these problems. An energy management system, or EMS, is a great example of this. Let’s take a closer look at what an EMS is, how it works and whether it may help your business.

 

What Is an Energy Management System?

Energy management systems refer to a set of technologies that are combined to form a full system for controlling energy usage within a building. Typically, this includes your heating and power supplies and an energy management control system. The EMS will have an interface that enables users to monitor and manage energy usage, as well as sensors and wireless capabilities that allow the system to manage itself.

Smart hubs in homes are basic examples of an EMS, since they can monitor energy consumption and help users make smarter decisions. However, they typically lack the management capabilities of a more comprehensive energy management control system.

An EMS used in business premises provides a vast number of benefits, which include:

  • Forecast energy peaks and trends ahead of time, enabling forward planning.
  • Track historical and real-time data around energy consumption and costs. 
  • Collect the necessary energy information for reporting requirements like ESOS, as well as plan towards net zero targets. 
  • Spot opportunities for cost-efficient energy-saving measures such as smart lighting.
  • Control devices to optimise their output, such as implementing an automatic lighting shut-down after a certain time, or optimising air conditioning output during peak hours etc. 

Energy management systems can be relatively simple, offering basic monitoring like a domestic smart meter. However, businesses with complex energy requirements will benefit more from a comprehensive EMS that can provide comprehensive usage data and optimise usage through intelligent scheduling and automated control.

In some industries, energy management systems also help spot potentially crucial issues. Manufacturers, for example, may be able to spot a power fault in a specific machine quickly thanks to an alert sent by the EMS.

 

Does your business need an energy management system?

Any premises can benefit from more insight into energy consumption, but not all businesses need a full EMS. For example, small businesses operated from a household or single office room will be fine with a standard smart meter.

As soon as your business begins to utilise multiple heat and power sources within a facility with multiple rooms of different sizes and occupancy levels, energy management systems become essential. By providing real-time consumption data and allowing you to schedule and control energy usage, you can rapidly reduce your energy bills and begin working towards a lower carbon footprint.

Talk to Quora Group today if you’re interested in exploring an EMS. We fit energy management controls and can advise you on incorporating existing technologies into a premises-wide system that allows your business to save money, improve efficiency and reduce CO2e. Get in touch today to learn more.