The stages of MM&T are:
- collection of data on energy and on influencing factors, such as weather conditions or production volumes
- analysis to convert data to information
- communication to convert information to knowledge
- follow-up actions to improve efficiency and eliminate waste.
This is a continuous process, and once established it should not be overly complex or time consuming. MM&T allows you to:
- detect avoidable energy waste that might otherwise remain hidden
- quantify savings achieved by energy projects and campaigns
- identify fruitful lines of investigation for energy surveys
- provide feedback for staff awareness, improve budget setting and undertake benchmarking
- calculate energy and carbon targets rationally to reflect achievable performance – often, targets are set without consideration of practical application or achievability.
MM&T also helps with energy invoice checking and tariff negotiation. Sometimes the term is inaccurately used to mean bill validation alone; true MM&T provides much more.
Automatic meter reading (AMR) systems, which use meters that do not have to be read manually, are well developed and becoming more and more cost-effective. AMR simplifies meter reading considerably and makes it possible to collect energy data at a much more detailed level. This brings the risk of ‘data overload’ so you need to balance the practicality and cost of metering with the benefits it will help deliver.
Temporary metering, in the form of a portable electricity data logger, can be invaluable when it is not practical to convert existing meters to AMR or to add permanent sub-metering.
Further resources
Monitoring and targeting in-depth guide (CTG008)
Metering technology overview (CTV027)
Automatic meter reading fact sheet (CTL083)
Choosing a portable electricity data logger (CTV041)
Conversion factors – Energy and carbon conversions – 2010 Update (CTL113)
Energy metering and monitoring: jargon buster
Degree days: accounting for weather effects in energy consumption
Tools
Energy Analyser Tool
Other Energy Management Guidance
An introduction to energy management (CTV045)
Energy management (CTG054)
Making the business case for a carbon reduction project (CTV039)
Energy surveys (CTG055)