Is it true “If you can’t measure it, it doesn’t exist”? Probably not; but when it comes to energy conservation, measurement and verification (M&V) is good business. Even if your motivations are not fully economic, it’s good business to know the funds you invest in Energy Conservation Measures (ECM’S) actually save energy.
Most business people need financial reports and accounting systems that gather the data to make solid business decisions. It’s not hard to calculate the return on investment for good accounting and financial reports in your business. I think it would be safe to say that without these tools all businesses would eventually fail. The same is true for your energy conservation program. As in business, you must gather the data and make decisions based on measured facts.
Your first tools in your energy accounting department are your primary meters, electric, gas, water, steam, BTU, etc. These meters are mechanical and electrical devices and will get out of calibration. I can safely state that most businesses and consumers are being overcharged for their water. Water meters wear out in the favor of the utility. This is a good time to audit your meters and determine if you have been overpaying or underpaying.
Depending on the complexity of your energy consuming equipment you may need portable data loggers with a variety of sensors to record electric consumption, run time of equipment, temperature, humidity, pressures etc. It may also be beneficial to have permanently installed sub-meters for components that use significant quantities of energy or are highly variable in their use of energy. A good source to determine what to measure and meter are the protocols established by the “International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol”. IPMVP www.ipmvp.org is the recognized authority for Measurement and Verification. (M&V).
Depending on the type of ECM’s you deploy, you may need meters to measure consumption before or after deploying the ECM…
- Document details about the amount and timing of your energy use to understand and improve consumption patterns
- Advanced meter data can be used to compare costs between competing utilities.
- Identify and implement operational strategies to control load factor, peak load requirements and reduce energy waste.
- Measure and verify anticipated energy savings from energy conservation measures.
- Secure better pricing from the retail energy markets.
Beyond simply measuring electrical, gas, steam, and water consumption, metering provides an essential analytical tool for allocating cost and for energy management. Advanced metering provides energy managers with the information they need to save energy and money as part of an effective O&M practice. Advanced metering also helps agencies identify energy savings opportunities, comply with energy reduction mandates, verify savings, and allows for participation in utility demand reduction programs.
Plug load wattmeters are available for well under $100. Data loggers start around $100. Permanently installed meters range from $100 to $1000, depending on their features. Recently introduced Ethernet-compatible sub metering equipment makes it even easier and less expensive to implement a distributed sub metering network where a LAN is already in place.
One of the most important requirements for a successful energy conservation program is designation of an internal or external energy accountant or energy manager with clear goals and objectives.
