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Power management is essential in critical buildings such as data centers or hospitals where data and lives are kept safe…but what can a power management system bring to a non-power critical application such as a commercial building or college campus? The answer lies in the information the power and energy management system can provide to the facility managers and maintenance staff:
• Information to plan for Building Maintenance
Most facility managers would like to have data that helps predict building maintenance needs. As equipment ages or begins to fail, it uses power differently, making it easier to see which equipment is not running at peak performance.
• Information to plan for renovations
When a building goes through renovations, data from a power management system takes the guesswork out of determining whether new service drops are needed and where they should be placed.
• Information to reduce Energy Costs
With ongoing changes to the structure of power pricing, the ability to analyze energy bills and reduce costs is an essential part of a facility manager’s job. A power and energy management system can be monitored throughout the month to make adjustments and avoid unnecessary additional fees.
• Information to develop and track Energy Conservation methods
Many Facility Managers are also being asked to act as Energy Managers. Setting and enacting a sustainability strategy is easier with the right data. In fact, many tenants are making it a point to choose locations with green buildings initiatives.
So, with all the benefits to put power and energy management into non-power critical buildings, what is stopping facility managers from doing so? There is a perception that power management systems are too complex and expensive to put into most commercial or retail spaces. Fortunately, Embedded Power and Energy Management Systems (ePEMS) are designed with the facility manager in mind. Power management software is embedded into the BMS, making it a seamless, cost-effective offer that is easily understood by the facility manager and maintenance team. Using the information from an ePEMS, facility managers of non-critical buildings can make incremental changes to improve efficiency, reduce energy costs, and document improvements in their energy conservation programs.
