Facility Management solutions to the energy challenges for Facility Managers
Facility Management is a difficult field in any organization.
Rising energy prices and sustainability requirements are prompting Facility Managers to improve their organization’s energy efficiency. In addition, they are often forced to do so with a shrinking budget and many other conflicting requirements.
However, recent developments in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and energy management (EMS) solutions allow plant professionals to gain in-depth knowledge of energy consumption. This transparency enables them to make informed site-level efficiency decisions.
This article describes possible solutions to five challenges facing Facility Managers in terms of energy efficiency and how the right energy management system can help address them.
1.It is difficult to gather reliable data.
Making changes without reliable data is one of the top Challenges of Facility Management. Most of the time, building management systems and meters operate in silos and data collection must be done manually. In addition to increasing the risk of human error, this is also tedious and counterproductive.
However, without reliable information about the energy consumption standards of your facilities, any initiatives taken could be a waste of money and effort. Facility managers need tools to enhance data consolidation productivity so they can spend more time on higher value tasks.
One solution is to develop an energy management system (EMS) that automatically collects and integrates data from all different locations and into a central platform.
2.Energy is unknowingly wasted on businesses.
Waste of energy can happen in many unnoticed ways. Defective timers, incorrect settings and poorly maintained equipment can cause problems. By the time you find out during scheduled checks, you may have already wasted several thousand dollars.
You can arrange for your team to carry out daily routine checks, but this comes at a high cost. Why not let the software do these checks automatically? A smart energy solution can also reduce human error.
With a powerful power management system, you can set alerts to alert you when power usage for specific equipment or areas exceeds predefined levels.
With real-time knowledge of energy use in various parts of your building, your team can proactively check and fix problems. When you can take immediate action, you can reduce waste and minimize the risk of unexpected damage. Contributes to the development of better energy management and the definition of energy sources for consistent and sustainable endeavor.
3. You find it difficult to justify your energy conversion projects.
When investing in renovations or upgrades, management should see clear results that demonstrate a strong return on investment (ROI).
But without detailed energy data, chances are you will end up with unreliable conclusions and failed trust.
With a real-time energy monitoring solution, you can easily quantify the potential savings for any project. In addition, you can verify the impact of your actions as soon as they are implemented.
This allows you to expand the scale of the project confidently and quickly to other areas.
4. Energy reporting consumes a lot of your valuable time.
Facility managers are expected to report their initiatives and results to senior management. But making such reports is not a simple matter. You need high data integrity, strong resolution and clear benchmarks.
Most importantly, all of this must be presented in a way that management can understand. This is of the utmost importance in gaining in-house buy-ins, trust and support for the work done by the installation team. Fortunately, most energy management solutions on the market can generate regular reports automatically. This saves you time and improves your team productivity.
With a few clicks, you can easily customize your energy report and share it with your colleagues or management.
However, make sure the reports they receive are designed for your common goal. Some systems are loaded with unnecessary technical data, forcing you to do more work when presenting to management.
5. Unwanted behavior of tenants or visitors affects the performance of your building.
Ensuring the optimal efficiency of your building system also carries a human element. The behavior of the tenants directly affects the energy efficiency of your building. Evidence shows that up to 30% of energy waste in an office is due to poor energy behavior by building users. The cooperation of the tenants with your energy efficiency efforts is essential for building long-term, sustainable processes. But how do you get your tenants involved?
In a world that embraces sharing and transparency, working in the background is counterproductive. Highlighting your energy efficiency efforts can increase the awareness of others about energy conservation. This helps tenants and other managers to contribute to your policies, improving your chances of success.
Can an energy management system, in real time, solve most of the energy efficiency problems?
The simple answer is YES. A powerful power management system can improve your operations and solve many of these challenges. Automating data collection, improving transparency, and providing clear reporting can make your life easier in all areas.
After all, you cannot manage what you do not count.