What is energy management software?

Energy-saving software and management solutions are more vital than ever before. Advanced technology and analytics platforms now allow companies to control and monitor usage, maximizing energy savings and reducing the negative impact on the planet.

Measuring and planning for the consumption of energy can be difficult for businesses. If energy consumption runs too low, they may suffer productivity outages. In contrast, high energy consumption can be detrimental to a company’s bottom line.

The process of energy management is of the utmost importance. Having a coherent energy management system for monitoring and distributing energy makes it easier to plan out operations for the long term. 

What is energy management and why is it important?

Energy management is the use of collected metrics to plan and distribute available energy resources across a business or organization. Energy managers work to carefully consider how specific policies will affect their organization and adjust consumption targets accordingly. 

There is an increasing global need to save energy. Along with environmental benefits, energy management systems have many internal advantages for an organization. With energy management software, companies can stay ahead of energy consumption and make better decisions about how their resources are used.

How does energy management software (EMS) work?

Energy management software provides a straightforward way for organizations to track utilities and collect important metrics associated with energy use. With the right information, businesses can create sustainable practices and eliminate wasteful energy consumption patterns from their day-to-day operations.

EMS offers an energy management platform for users to collect and analyze usage data so they can compare different factors and instantly generate reports. Energy-saving software can be a huge boon to organizations of all sizes.

Collecting energy-usage data

Energy tracking and collection is the first step in taking control of energy usage. Energy Management Software is an essential tool to optimize energy usage because it collects raw data from multiple sources.

Data can be collected from a variety of energy sources, such as:

• Natural gas
• Coal
• Wood
• Propane
• Electricity
• Steam
• Wastewater
• Water
• Chilled water
• Fuel oil
• Irrigation
• Refuse and other sources

This data makes it possible to create targeted management solutions to help your operation run as smoothly as possible.

Analyzing energy-usage data

Energy data analytics provide a real-world understanding of usage that can be applied to policies for greater efficiency. Energy Management Software that collects energy-usage data associated with operations gives managers a better idea of how to distribute their assets moving forward.

EMS can conduct analyses to address utility bills, energy initiatives, energy waste, or other factors that affect operations. Analysis of energy-usage data is vital for solving complex problems within organizations.

Comparing energy-usage data

Energy optimization requires organizations to consider energy usage over time. An EMS solution allows you to compare energy consumption to specified baselines, including similar facilities. These comparisons are essential for determining which facilities are operating most efficiently and making adjustments to those that aren’t.

Generating cost and usage reports

Businesses rely on energy forecasting to plan for expected energy costs and adjust operations accordingly. Energy Management software makes it easy to generate cost and usage reports, providing clarity over policy outcomes and objectives.

EMS software can generate reports on important metrics, such as:

• Energy use
• Carbon emissions
• Operational expenses
• Utilities
• Avoided costs

With this information readily available, decision-makers are better equipped to handle the ongoing pressures of energy management.

What are the benefits of using energy management software?

Energy management system software eliminates uncertainties in the production process, improving operations for stakeholders in a wide variety of industries.

This software offers an efficient solution for organizations that want to maintain an edge against the competition and experience its many energy management benefits.

Reduce energy costs

Energy asset management is the perfect solution for businesses looking to reduce energy costs. An energy management solution helps reduce a company’s energy costs across the board through the introduction of practices like these:

• Improving operational efficiencies
• Removing redundant equipment
• Powering down at the end of the day
• Automation of low-traffic locations

With these cost-cutting measures in place, businesses can effectively reduce their carbon footprint, resulting in more sustainable operations that aren’t impeded by changes in market energy prices.

Minimize waste and improve sustainability

With the increasing importance of sustainable business practices, organizations need to have strict policies for reducing waste across all operations. An EMS solution makes identifying and eliminating energy waste easier by giving decision-makers a unified platform for collecting data and improving consumption policies.

Enhance employee productivity and well-being

Energy management for productivity is essential to a happy and healthy workplace. Studies show that a comfortable work environment boosts employee productivity and well-being.

According to a study by IEEE, “productivity of workers increases 14% when working in a more comfortable workplace.” Factors such as comfortable temperatures, appropriate lighting, and automated services can make a huge difference in how much employees can get done throughout the day.

Support data-driven decision-making

EMS energy analytics gives you access to the right data when you need it. These insights provide a more accurate and efficient decision-making metric, giving leaders a better understanding of operations so they can improve internal policies and ensure they’re in line with expectations.

Prove and communicate success

A lack of transparency can be detrimental to an organization when attempting to demonstrate progress to outsiders. With an EMS solution in place, you can show changes in metrics over time and map out the impact of implemented policies.

EMS gives you advanced reporting features so you can quickly and effectively communicate savings, progress, and overall success to key stakeholders.

What are the elements of an effective energy management software?

It’s important to look for an EMS solution with features that will allow you to get the most out of your investment. Selecting just one of the many energy management solutions can be difficult, but users should consider these key elements before making their choice.

Cost breakdowns

For most organizations, energy costs are a major detriment to profitability. It is essential to have a tool for controlling costs and maximizing efficiencies. Energy monitoring software provides insights into an organization's biggest cost drivers, which helps guide cost-saving initiatives.

Reporting & benchmarking capabilities

Energy management tools must be able to address the insights hidden in large amounts of data. Quality reporting tools allow businesses to measure operational data and evaluate performance metrics. These capabilities make it easier to identify, interpret, and communicate key insights from your data.

Real-time consumption tracking

Energy usage is often difficult to track, making budgeting and adjusting to new circumstances difficult. EMS gives users specifics about their consumption habits in real time, taking the guesswork out of energy management. 

A solid EMS solution ensures your organization has the right data at the right time, allowing decision-makers to take quick, energy-efficient action when it matters most.

Energy-savings recommendations

Organizations operate at different scales, and each has its own needs. Energy efficiency software offers specialized recommendations to users, giving them insights into how to effectively address their energy use.  If you’re looking for advanced energy management solutions for your business, Brightly’s EMS helps identify energy-saving initiatives so you can focus on what’s important.

Energy management tips and best practices

Organizations that want to create an energy management program that works for them should consider the long-term potential of an energy management platform.

Implementing EMS in your organization can be complicated. It’s especially important to consider energy management best practices when deploying your solution in the real world.

The more data, the better

If you want to improve your energy management practices, you need to collect as much raw data as possible. Consistent data collection allows organizations to identify usage patterns and energy waste that would otherwise be impossible to detect. This is essential for streamlining your energy management capabilities.

Identify and quantify your energy-saving initiatives

Each organization has unique goals — and unique challenges to overcome in achieving them. EMS helps identify and track these goals by allowing you to manage large volumes of data in a single location. Quantifying your energy-saving goals will make it easier to find the best solution when making hard choices.

Track your progress

When creating an energy management policy, organizations should make sure to keep track of their ongoing progress. Tracking energy-saving initiatives allows you to make needed adjustments along the way, making it easier to identify key insights and demonstrate successes.

It’s an ongoing process

Energy management is an ongoing process that takes time and effort. Identifying new energy savings and planning accordingly is only possible with a clear vision of the future. With EMS, you can seamlessly integrate each of these steps into your plan of action, allowing you to implement the best solutions as company-wide policies.

How can I implement energy management software within my organization?

For most organizations, having a solid EMS solution is a no-brainer. With Brightly as a partner, you’ll have all you need to identify and eliminate energy waste.

The ease of getting started makes Brightly a perfect option for your business, no matter what stage of growth you’re in. Our energy monitoring dashboard provides a simple and convenient way to track and manage energy-related metrics. With Brightly, you’ll have an energy management platform that meets the demands of today without breaking the bank.

Schedule your free custom demo today!