Energy Management Systems: The Efficient Way To Conserve Energy
"Why there is a need of EMS?"
Energy is the main fuel for social and economic development. The industrial sector needs high power. There is a rising need for optimizing the use of energy and conserving energy. In addition, various industries are taking efforts to use energy more efficiently due to the market pressure and public awareness about environmental sustainability. The need to conserve and optimize energy usage is becoming the focus for the industrial and residential sector.
Energy management system aims at achieving energy efficiency through process optimization by reporting granular energy use by individual pieces of equipment. Cloud-based EMS remotely control energy consuming equipment and HVAC systems to gather detailed & real-time data for equipment.
They also generate specific, intelligent, and real-time guidance on finding & capturing the energy saving opportunities. For instance, the patented Site Sage system centrally analyzes & controls equipment and delivers actionable intelligence to help multi-unit retail, restaurant, and convenience store chains to save energy.
Currently, Wi-Fi thermostats, sensors, smart plugs, and smart meters are the common products in the market. These technologies and products are used to control power monitoring, temperature control, and lighting controls. Connected homes, IoT (Internet of Things), and Zigbee technology would help to get real-time tracking and also send and receive data from anywhere to control in a faster manner.
Companies have been involved in the improvement of technologies in the EMS market and also investing in huge amount for the same. Lunera Lighting, Inc. offers light stream lighting as a service that allows building operators and owners to improve their commercial lighting infrastructure to LED with zero capital expense.
In the U.S., non-residential buildings are currently using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to measure and track the energy usage. The EPA, which launched the ENERGY STAR program, estimated the energy cost savings for existing buildings at USD 3.4 billion since the program was introduced. However, 60% of buildings have not yet started using it.
To promote the transition to more sustainable energy systems, regulators have been approving energy efficiency programs and promoting smart grids. Building managers are adopting EMS to adapt energy operations to real-time market and weather conditions.
“Regulatory trends drives the market”
In response to the Kyoto Protocol and other similar targets set by international directives or standards, energy efficiency measures have been included in the building codes and standards of most of the developed countries. Over the past decade, such regulations are also being increasingly implemented in emerging economies including China, Mexico, India, and Singapore.
These requirements drive implementation of national building codes & standards and contribute to the harmonization of action taken. In addition, various incentives, generally of a financial nature like tax reduction and grants, exist to encourage investments that reduce building energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Many companies volunteer to produce a carbon disclosure report and benefit from federal/state tax incentive. Such a positive effect of policy and incentive programs is expected to be a major growth driver for the market.
National light-duty vehicle (LDV) efficiency standards in the U.S. have tightened in the recent years. Energy efficiency policies also play an important role across other end-use sectors. The Appliances and Equipment Standards program of the U.S. Department of Energy has issued 29 product standards since 2009.
“Government Opportunity & Role”
Currently, the DoE has standards covering around 90% of home energy use, 60% of commercial building use, and 30% of industrial use. By the end of 2016, approximately 20 additional standards are scheduled to be introduced. A key standard was agreed in 2015 on commercial rooftop air conditioning, which provides commercial building owners with net savings of over USD50 billion.
The United States Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program has been certifying industrial facilities since 2007. These certifications are provided to those facilities which implement an EMS according to the ISO50001 global energy management system standard and achieve improved energy performance. Silver, gold, or platinum level certificate is given to a facility based on its performance. SEP participants have demonstrated an average 10% reduction in energy costs within 18 months of SEP implementation, and annual savings of over USD 87,000 using low-cost operational measures. The payback period is one to two years for energy efficiency projects identified through the EMS.
In-depth report on global energy management systems (EMS) market by Grand View Research:
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/energy-management-systems-market