Energy efficiency is a priority axis of France's energy strategy. The 2015 law on the energy transition for green growth sets a target of reducing national energy consumption by 20% in 2030 compared to 2013.

In March 2023, Europe bid by setting an informal target ofee by 11.7% compared to the 2030 forecasts established in 2020. Businesses are on the front line.

Energy management is part of the solution. This intelligent device reinforces the effects of energy control actions. It is on this postulate that the BACS decree of July 20, 2020 is based. Complemented by the decree of April 23, 2023, it requires tertiary buildings whose nominal useful power is greater than 70 kW to install an automation and control system (“Building Automation and Control System”) from 1^Er January 2025.

Even if you are not affected by this regulatory requirement, energy management is a powerful driver of energy performance for your company. What is energy management? How to set it up and what are its advantages for your business? Explanations.

What is energy management in concrete terms?

Energy management — or energy management — aims to reduce energy consumption of the company through intelligent and automated management systems.

Energy management of buildings

Energy management of buildings consists of monitor, analyze and optimize energy consumption company buildings. Concretely, it is structured around a computerized management system And of monitoring and control procedures.

Thanks to the analysis of the data collected by the energy management system (SME) and dashboards, companies can:

• Know in real time and item by item the consumption of each building and each equipment.
• Compare Changes in consumption from one reference period to another and measure efficiency energy-saving actions, in a process of continuous improvement.
• Detect malfunctions and anomalies of overconsumption via automated alerts, then quickly initiate corrective maintenance actions to limit energy and financial losses.
• Adjust consumption to needs, for example, by remotely and automatically programming the hours and days when the ventilation and heating will operate.
• Identify the most energy-consuming installations to imagine more efficient solutions (purchase of more efficient equipment, choice of photovoltaic self-consumption, thermal insulation...)
• Reducing electricity consumption by carrying out voluntary internal load offloads, for example in the event of tensions on the electrical network announced by the application EcoWatt.

The energy management of electric car charging

Professional electromobility has numerous environmental and financial advantages. However, the simultaneous recharging of a fleet of electric vehicles is not without consequences on the company's electrical network and, more generally, on the public electricity network.

Energy management allows the company to recharge its professional vehicles safely. It helps to warn Exceedances of the subscribed power, synonymous with the risk of cuts and financial penalties.

With the smart charging and dynamic, The terminal adjusts the power allocated to charging based on the company's real-time electrical needs, the number of cars charged and the capacities of the electric meter. It is also possible to set a maximum power per charging station.

Energy management also makes it possible to start recharging remotely or automatically at times when the electrical network is least used, often during off-peak hours.

This tool for optimizing electricity production, consumption and distribution promotes better use of resources, which in turn leads to energy and financial savings for businesses.

How to implement an energy management system in business?

The implementation of an energy management system follows the stages of project management: assessment, action plan, implementation, evaluation, improvement. The ISO 50001 standard can guide the company in setting up a” Energy management ” efficient and good practices.

An essential tool: the energy audit

The energy audit is an essential prerequisite for deploying energy management in the company. Complete energy balance of buildings, the audit is essential to define a relevant and coherent energy efficiency plan and to structure energy management.

The audit draws up a Detailed inventory of the company's consumption. It allows you to know precisely:

• The energy performance of all equipment (heating installations, domestic hot water production (DHW), ventilation, heating networks...)
• The thermal performance of buildings and the quality of the insulation.
• Energy and thermal weak points of the company and the potential for energy savings.

Data analysis results in proposal of a detailed action plan. Each recommendation is accompanied by estimates of the cost of the work, the potential energy savings and the payback time.

The energy audit can be renewed by the company for assess progress and identify areas for improvement.

Framing the energy management system

The results of the energy audit help to prioritize energy efficiency actions and to Define coherent energy management with the goals and ambitions of the company. The scope and scope of energy management will depend on the answers to numerous technical and organizational questions:

• What data does the company want to track and for what purpose?
• What scope should be given to the project and which installations to control (lighting, heating, domestic hot water, ventilation, airconditioning, renewable energy production, solar panels, heating networks...)?
• What management systems are the most adapted to the size of the company, its activities and its equipment? What software should you choose and how to implement them in the information system?
• How many sensors, detectors, meters are needed and where do you install them? Does this require connection work?
• Does the company have internal skills to supervise energy management or is it more appropriate to entrust this mission to an external expert, with centralized remote management?

Deploy and assess the company's energy management

Once the project is clearly defined, it is time to implement it in the company. Concretely, this means the deployment of a computerized energy management system, by the installation of sensors, meters and detectors IoT (Internet of Things) and by the possible technical connection of the installations.

It is also the time to Define procedures and practices monitoring and control, accompanied by communication and training actions.

Of regular evaluations make it possible to correct dysfunctions, to adapt the system to operational realities and to make it evolve according to needs.

The benefits of smart energy management

Energy management is a real ecological and financial opportunity for companies.

Improving the company's energy performance

Energy management is a powerful lever for energy performance. It reinforces the efficiency of sobriety and effectiveness actions, optimizing them and preventing dysfunctions.

On average, energy management can lead to reduction in electricity consumption by 10 to 30%, depending on the specificities of the buildings.

Reduce energy bills and maintenance costs

Energy management Reduce the electricity bill And gas of the company through the optimization of consumption, but also by the rapid identification of malfunctions. No need to wait for the receipt of an extravagant bill to identify overconsumption.

The management software immediately detects the anomaly and the equipment involved. The problem can be resolved quickly and cheaply. via corrective maintenance or remote adjustment of the installation.

Better negotiate your energy purchases

Thanks to energy management, the company knows very precisely the details of its electricity and gas consumption. This gives it a valuable advantage in negotiating its energy purchases and finding the supplier with the offer best suited to its needs.

Optimizing employee comfort

Energy management optimizes the working comfort of occupants and simplifies their daily lives. For example, it can be via the automatic ventilation and temperature adjustment depending on weather conditions. It can also be via the intelligent and automatic management of lighting and blinds depending on the brightness.

Energy management is a ecological transition solution accessible to all businesses, regardless of their size and budget capabilities. It offers real financial and energy opportunities for all businesses that want to reduce their electricity bills and improve their carbon footprint.

Today, with the digitalization And the development of artificial intelligence, energy management is constantly progressing. If theInternet of Things (IoT) already offers very precise monitoring of installations, we are now evolving towards integrated Smart Building solutions.

In these connected and communicating buildings, digital technology is at the service of energy performance. All systems are interoperable, from energy management to space management to access controls.

Thanks to connected tools and “tailor-made” services, Smart Building is asserting itself as the intelligent building with very high energy performance of the future.

Did you know that?

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