System to monitor and reduce energy usage at sites around the world

Schneider Electric’s remote energy management (REM) tool is a web-based system that enables facilities and building managers to monitor, measure and reduce energy consumption across multiple sites around the world. REM uses metering technology to achieve savings through power inefficiencies as well as identifying the best rates available from energy providers in the region. Real-time data is uploaded to a centrally hosted online portal for building and facilities managers to access anytime, from anywhere in the world.

The system easily integrates with a building’s existing or new energy meters and is designed to identify where corrective actions could be taken to reduce energy and carbon emissions and decrease costs. It does not require any capital investment in software or servers, and is delivered as an operational ‘pay as you use’ system. This means building owners and operators can achieve total visibility of all energy use without any investment up front.

The service sits on top of any existing building management system and is designed to help building managers make informed decisions based on their actual energy usage to:

• monitor the consumption of water, gas, electricity and steam
• report on cost-saving opportunities by tracking the best energy rates in the region to identify where energy can be decreased without impacting operations
• estimate actual cost of energy usage and verify the accuracy of energy bills
• track and report on CO₂ emissions and set emission targets
• create schedules for sending energy usage reports and updates via email
• set up alarm thresholds and receive alarms via email or cell

The tool is claimed to help identify energy savings of at least 30% in an average building, according to David Gardner, Vice President, Power Business, Schneider Electric. Energy prices are forecast to increase by 51% next year and legislative changes, such as mandatory disclosure, mean that organisations are waking up to the impact of energy on their bottom line, Gardner said. Energy usage in building and industry is responsible for 44% of greenhouse gas emissions and 53% of carbon dioxide emissions. “Our own experience with some of Australia’s biggest organisations shows that even those who meter and monitor energy use often aren’t acting on the data or looking at how to improve performance.

“The power of REM is that it converts energy data from multiple commercial premises into information which can be easily understood by anyone within the organisation. Active energy management processes can then be implemented to drive down costs and carbon emissions.

“Building managers involved in our early trials have uncovered insufficient water pipe insulation, poorly maintained systems and switched off power factor correction systems through REM, all of which have a significant impact on energy costs.”

Unless organisations are able to measure energy use, they won’t investigate whether the power baseline is right for the size of the building, explains Gardner. “This is particularly true for older buildings where problems are likely to be heightened. REM paves the way for organisations to take responsibility for energy management and benefit from both a financial and carbon reduction perspective. “We’ve already connected REM to 50 of Schneider Electric’s office sites around the world to benchmark our energy use. With our baseline now established, we are setting ambitious targets to drive down our energy bills and reduce our carbon footprint,” he said.