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Automated energy management systems provide powerful tools for customers and utilities. Monitoring and controlling energy consumption in real time offers value, as does storing historical usage data. This Tech Surveillance report features a market snapshot of energy management systems provided by three leading companies: ADMMicro, Roanoke, Va.; eLutions, Tampa, Fla.; and Johnson Controls Milwaukee, Wis.
Johnson Controls has implemented energy management systems in facilities that range from processing plants to mushroom farms to ski resorts. Both ADMMicro and Johnson Controls maintain that their systems can provide payback periods of two years or less, depending on a client's goals. Companies interested primarily in a fast return on investment may elect to monitor and control a limited number of energy-consuming devices that will deliver savings more rapidly. Heller notes, however, the benefits of taking a long-term perspective. Energy management systems that offer more in-depth monitoring and control cost more up front but produce greater savings in the long run. "If an organization is more concerned about energy and sustainability, it will accept a longer payback of six to eight years. If it is purely concerned about return on investment, payback can be as short as one and a half years," Heller said. John Richmond, vice president of sales and marketing for ADMMicro, says, "For a multi-site enterprise such as a small- or mid-box retailer, savings are in the order of 20% to 25% in energy kilowatt hours, 15% to 20% in kilowatt demand, and an overall bill reduction of 20% to 25%." Although the companies' systems include some similar features, there are several significant differences, such as the number and type of inputs accepted. Support services offered by each company also may differ. For example, ADMMicro has an internal team that charts and graphs data and information and offers analysis for individual systems. Johnson Controls has locally stationed experts to assist with installations, repairs, and system upgrades.
Bob Evans Farms, Columbus, Ohio, owns and operates 589 Bob Evans and Owens Restaurants in 21 states. Bob Evans Restaurants are currently testing ADMMicro's ADM-1204 units installed in seven newly constructed and one existing restaurant. "The system appears very flexible and can be reprogrammed once installed to try various control strategies. The best part of the system is its flexibility and ability to change as you need," says Dave Scott, energy services manager for Bob Evans. The system monitors everything from the HVAC system and lights to the cooler and freezer temperatures. This particular application includes motion sensors that activate lights as employees open and close the restaurant and that switch the HVAC from the unoccupied to occupied building settings. The system also can send an alert if an anomaly arises. "It is possible to monitor just about any system and use on-site or e-mail alarms to notify you if it is operating outside set parameters," Scott explains. Immediately after installation of the trial retrofit application, for example, Scott noticed abnormal natural gas usage in one of the systems being monitored. After some investigation, the system was found to be defective and was repaired, resulting in substantial savings. "Because of this, we went to other restaurants that had high gas usage, and found similar problems. They also were corrected," Scott said, "saving us time, energy, and money." The energy management systems installed in the new restaurants are projected to pay for themselves in two years. Payback on the retrofit application will come earlier, according to Scott. Businesses that use energy management systems may earn points in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. This U.S. Green Building Council program offers opportunities for new facilities to meet performance and sustainability goals. According to Heller, many members of the Johnson Controls technical staff are LEED-certified design professionals. "We have been instrumental in helping clients earn extra LEED points for innovative design and energy savings." Building energy management systems have been in use for more than 25 years, providing real time energy monitoring and control, and saving millions of dollars for building owners and managers. Although issues regarding on- and off-site operation, maintenance training, and support have cropped up from time to time, the systems are increasingly being used in commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Their value in saving both energy and money is well documented, and their ease of operation ensures that savings continue over time. |
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"The
convergence of energy management with information technology is
the way of the future. Every kind of facility today is connected
with an IT network, so the ability to use it with energy management
is huge," said Robert Heller, director of energy solutions at Johnson
Controls. 
In
this sample of charting capabilities offered by ADMMicro, Section
1 represents the benefits of coupling metered loads with communicating
thermostats. This allows for the dynamic control of electrical
demands. Section 2 is a typical example of a programmable setback
schedule used to increase energy savings. Section 3 depicts building
temperature trends.
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