Intelligent energy monitoring for buildings: an effective strategy for sustainable energy efficiency

Whether due to legal requirements or rising energy costs, the pressure to reduce energy consumption is increasing. As a result, transparent and efficient management of energy use is essential for the housing and property sectors. A key tool is energy monitoring, which systematically records and analyses consumption data and identifies appropriate measures for improvement. The primary aim of energy monitoring is to create transparency of consumption for both tenants and landlords, so that inefficient processes can be identified and potential savings developed. The result is smart, sustainable buildings that meet regulatory requirements. Energy management is closely related to energy monitoring in that it is concerned with the development and implementation of strategic and operational measures to optimise the use of energy in buildings. This is ensured by energy monitoring as it provides the relevant data on which to base decisions. The interaction between energy monitoring and energy management therefore not only increases the efficiency of energy consumption, but also contributes to the long-term sustainability of the housing industry by designing properties with the future in mind.

Requirements of the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG)

The German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) imposes increasingly stringent requirements for improving energy efficiency. The aim is not only to reduce energy consumption in the long term, but also to ensure sustainable structures in companies, public institutions and data centres. The main requirements of the Energy Efficiency Act are as follows:

For companies: In Germany, small and many medium-sized companies were previously exempt from the obligation to carry out an energy audit. This has changed with the introduction of the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), which came into force on 18 November 2023. It is no longer the size that counts, but the average annual consumption. Companies with an average annual total final energy consumption of more than 7.5 GWh (this amount is calculated on the basis of the last three completed calendar years) must implement an energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 or an environmental management system in accordance with EMAS. These systems deal in particular with the systematic recording and analysis of energy consumption in companies. This requirement does not apply to companies whose total annual energy consumption is below this average, but they are obliged to carry out ongoing energy audits in accordance with the requirements of DIN EN 16247-1. These are designed to regularly assess energy consumption and identify potential savings and must be repeated every four years. Alternatively, they can implement an energy management system, a simplified version of ISO 50001. The EnEfG also requires companies to make an active contribution to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved, for example, by using renewable energy or efficient technologies.

For public institutions: Public organisations are also required to develop and implement energy efficiency measures in order to set an example. This includes both the introduction of transparent reporting systems and the preparation of energy efficiency plans. Again, the focus is on reducing energy consumption in public facilities and buildings. In addition, public bodies must publish annual reports that transparently communicate their energy consumption and progress in implementing their efficiency measures.

For data centres: Data centres are considered an energy-intensive infrastructure and therefore face particular challenges. Implementing appropriate energy efficiency measures includes increasing the energy efficiency of cooling systems, implementing renewable energy and using advanced energy management systems. Data centres are also required to implement an ISO 50001 energy management system or an EMAS environmental management system if their total annual consumption exceeds 7.5 GWh. To ensure transparent communication and legal compliance, data centre operators are also required to submit regular reports on their energy efficiency.

Precise measurement for optimised energy use: the technology behind energy monitoring

Functionality

Energy monitoring enables the continuous collection and analysis of relevant energy consumption data. The aim is to create an overall transparency that can be used to identify and develop optimisation measures. The energy monitoring process consists of several steps:

1. Data collection: Initially, all data on electricity, heat and, if applicable, fossil fuels is collected. The data is usually collected using smart meters, which can accurately measure energy flows. They can be installed at both building and system level, allowing detailed analysis of individual system consumption. The data collected includes:
   1. Total consumption data for a building or company
   2. Load profiles showing energy consumption at specific times of the day or year
   3. Meter data that is read continuously and automatically
   4. Energy sources, such as fossil fuels and renewables
2. Data transmission and storage: Once collected, the data is transmitted over a network to a central data platform or energy management system (e.g. ISO 50001) and stored. From there, it can be retrieved at any time if required. Depending on the organisation and data protection requirements, the data is stored either in a secure cloud-based infrastructure or on local servers.
3. Analysis: The next step is to analyse the collected data using specialised software solutions. This can be done manually by technical experts or with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The aim is to identify patterns in energy consumption and make predictions about future consumption trends. In particular, the following are analysed:
   1. Consumption trends: How will energy consumption develop in the coming years?
   2. Benchmarks: How does consumption compare to similar buildings or recorded averages?
   3. Anomalies: Are there any unexpected consumption peaks or anomalous behaviour? If so, what are the causes, such as inefficient use or technical problems?
4. Reporting: Based on the results of the analyses, regular reports are now produced that provide a transparent overview of current energy consumption and the savings potential identified. This provides the basis for informed decisions on how to optimise energy efficiency and reduce costs. The results are also used to derive appropriate measures, such as:
   1. Improving heating and cooling systems
   2. the use of renewable energies
   3. Optimisation of building insulation, etc.

Relevant KPIs

In order to make informed decisions, the following key figures are essential for energy monitoring:

• Energy intensity: This key figure represents the energy consumption in relation to the quantity of products produced or the area used (e.g. kWh/m² for buildings). This allows the efficiency of a plant or building to be measured.
• Cost efficiency: This KPI compares energy consumption with energy costs. It can be used to identify specific cost reduction opportunities.
• CO2 emissions: This measures how many CO2 emissions are generated by energy consumption. This is particularly relevant to sustainability and carbon neutrality.
• Peak demand: This metric measures the highest energy consumption over a period of time and is fundamental to determining load and cost management strategies.
• Load profiles: Gather detailed data on consumption at different times of the day or year. This can be used to identify areas for optimisation.

Key factors of a high-performance energy monitoring system

Effective energy monitoring is based on key components that ensure accurate recording and analysis of energy consumption. The core components are:

• Communication-capable metering and switching devices: Data collection is the foundation of any energy monitoring system. It is based on intelligent metering devices that measure energy consumption and transmit it in real time to centralised systems. Communication-enabled meters (e.g. smart meters) play a key role here, as they can also identify significant patterns such as power peaks and load profiles. In addition to automating data collection, they also enable the detection of sources of error or anomalies in consumption.
• Cloud-based applications: The data collected is typically stored centrally on cloud-based platforms. This ensures that the data is accessible from anywhere and is highly scalable. By using a cloud, consumption data can be efficiently analysed and evaluated. Cloud solutions also ensure the integration of different systems and the ability to quickly adapt to new requirements or technological developments.
• Data analytics software and AI-based systems: Specialised data analysis tools help to make the most of the energy data collected. They can often use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms to identify patterns and predict trends. Based on this automated analysis, strategic energy-saving measures can be defined and implemented more quickly.
• Energy management systems (EMS): An energy management system (EMS) is responsible for managing energy data and controlling processes for optimisation. An EMS enables not only detailed control of energy consumption, but also the automation of energy management processes, such as the improvement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
• Real-time monitoring and dashboards: Real-time monitoring ensures that energy consumption can be analysed immediately so that action can be taken quickly if unusual consumption patterns are detected. This is made possible by the use of dashboards that visualise current energy data. These can be customised to show only the information that is relevant to the operation. This allows experts such as facility managers to react quickly to changes or unexpected consumption patterns and initiate appropriate strategies.
• Automated control systems: Automated control systems provide direct control and regulation of energy use, taking into account the data collected. This includes, for example, automatic adjustment of heating and lighting to actual demand.

Efficiency & transparency: the benefits for you

• Cost reduction through strategic optimisation
• Credibility through full transparency
• Compliance with regulatory requirements
• More sustainable energy management
• Early detection of faults or abnormal behaviour
• Optimised operational processes
• Long-term increase in property value

Your partner for successful energy monitoring

Noventic offers tailor-made solutions to help you monitor and optimise energy consumption in properties. Our smart metering systems, combined with cloud-based applications, collect and analyse energy data in real time, enabling early identification of potential savings and the development of strategies to improve processes and sustainably increase energy efficiency. We can also help you create energy-efficient and climate-friendly buildings. Our specialists also have digital solutions that can be used to make the operational management of buildings more efficient, transparent and automated.

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Your partner for digital infrastructure solutions for intelligent building services

Imovis creates the basis for an intelligent, connected and sustainable energy supply for buildings. Digital infrastructure solutions enable the precise recording, analysis and control of energy flows - for more efficient operational management and successful decarbonisation.

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