{"id":869,"date":"2013-05-06T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.electrex.it\/en\/2013\/05\/06\/energy-monitoring-and-targeting\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T08:52:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T06:52:38","slug":"energy-monitoring-and-targeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.electrex.it\/en\/applications\/electrex-applications\/energy-monitoring-and-targeting.html","title":{"rendered":"What is energy monitoring and targeting (M&T)"},"content":{"rendered":"
Energy monitoring and targeting<\/span> (M & T) is an energy efficiency technique<\/b> based on the standard <\/span>management<\/span> axiom stating that \u201cyou cannot manage what you cannot measure\u201d.
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“<\/span>M&T: Techniques to help organizations<\/span><\/p>\n

control and manage their energy use<\/span>“<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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M&T techniques provide Energy Managers<\/b> with feedback <\/b>on operating practices, results <\/b>of energy management projects, and guidance<\/b> on the level of energy use that is expected in a certain period. Importantly, they also give early warning of unexpected excess consumption caused by malfunctions, operator error, unwanted user behaviours, maintenance errors and the like.<\/span><\/div>\n

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The foundation of M&T lies in determining the normal relationships of energy consumptions to relevant driving factors<\/b> (production thoughputs, weather, available daylight, etc.) and the goal is to help business managers:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Identify and explain excessive energy use<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Detect instances when consumption is unexpectedly lower than would usually have been the case<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Draw energy consumption trends (weekly, seasonal, operational\u2026)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Determine future energy use when planning changes in the business<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Diagnose specific areas of wasted energy<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Observe how the business reacted to changes in the past<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Develop performance targets for energy management programs<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Manage their energy consumption, rather than accept it as a fixed cost that they have no control over.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    The ultimate goal is to reduce energy costs through improved energy efficiency<\/span> and energy management control. Other benefits generally include increased resource efficiency, improved production<\/span> budgeting and reduction of greenhouse gas<\/span> (GHG) emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Goals and benefits<\/span><\/h2>\n

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    Throughout the numerous M&T projects implemented since the 1980s, a certain number of benefits have proved to be recurrent:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    • Energy cost savings: generally 5% of the original energy expenses, according to The Carbon Trust<\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Reduction in GHG<\/span> emissions: lower energy consumption helps reduce emissions<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Financing: measured energy reductions help obtain grants<\/span> for energy efficiency projects<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Improved product and service costing: sub-metering<\/span> allows the division of the energy bill between the different processes of an industry<\/span>, and can be calculated as a production cost<\/span>
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    • Improved budgeting<\/span>: M&T techniques can help forecast energy expenses in the case of changes in the business, for example<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Waste avoidance: helps diagnose energy waste in any process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n


      \nThe technique<\/span><\/h2>\n

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      Key principles<\/span><\/h3>\n

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      Monitoring and Targeting techniques rely on three main principles, which form a constant feedback<\/span> cycle, therefore improving control of energy use.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Monitoring<\/span><\/h4>\n

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      Monitoring information<\/span> on energy use, in order to establish a basis for energy management and explain deviations<\/span> from an established pattern. Its primary goal is to maintain said pattern, by providing all the necessary data on energy consumption, as well as certain driving factors<\/span>, as identified during preliminary investigation (production<\/span>, weather, etc.).[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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      Reporting<\/span><\/h4>\n

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      The final principle is the one which enables ongoing control of energy use, achievement of targets and verification of savings: reports must be issued to the appropriate managers. This in turn allows decision-making<\/span> and actions to be taken in order to achieve the targets, as well as confirmation or denial that the targets have been reached.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Procedures<\/span><\/h3>\n

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      Before the M&T measures themselves are implemented, a few preparatory steps are necessary. First of all, key energy consumers on the site must be identified. Generally, most of the energy consumption is concentrated in a small number of processes, like heating, or certain machinery<\/span>. This normally requires a certain survey of the building<\/span> and the equipment to estimate their energy consumption level.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      It is also necessary to assess what other measurements<\/span> will be required to analyze<\/span> the consumption appropriately. This data will be used to chart<\/span>against the energy consumption: these are underlying factors which influence the consumption, often production<\/span> (for industry processes) or exteriortemperature<\/span> (for heating processes), but may include many other variables.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Once all variables to be measured have been established, and the necessary meters installed, it is possible to initiate the M&T procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Measure<\/span><\/h4>\n

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      The first step is to compile the data from the different meters. Low-cost energy feedback displays have become available. The frequency at which the data is compiled varies according to the desired reporting interval, but can go once every 30 seconds to once every 15 minutes. Some measurements can be taken directly from the meters, others must be calculated. These different measurements are often called streams or channels.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Driving factors such as production or degree days<\/span> also constitute streams and must be collected at intervals to match.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Define the base-line<\/span><\/h4>\n

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      The data compiled must then be plotted on a graph<\/span> in order to define the general consumption base-line. Consumption rates are plotted in a scatter plot<\/span> against production<\/span> or any other variable previously identified, and the best fit line<\/span> is identified. This graph is the image of the business\u2019 average energy performance, and conveys a lot of information:<\/span><\/p>\n

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