11 Best Energy Management Systems (EMS) in 2024 [Full ...

08 Jul.,2024

 

11 Best Energy Management Systems (EMS) in [Full ...

Energy management systems have become essential tools for businesses and organizations looking to reduce energy costs, improve operational efficiency, and minimize their environmental impact. This is just one of the many ways companies today are taking on green building trends and making workspaces more sustainable.

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A wide variety of energy management tools are available, providing in-depth and precise energy monitoring across countless applications. It can be difficult to decide which solution best suits your needs.

Today, we&#;re covering the best energy management systems on the market and why you need them.

What is Energy Management?

Energy management is the implementation of various data-based optimization measures to reduce costs in the supply of energy.

This includes all the measures taken to reduce energy consumption, energy wastage, and the associated costs.

This may include everything from monitoring monthly energy bills to switching to energy-saving lights and equipment, improving existing insulation, installing a reflective roof covering, or improving heating and cooling equipment.

Energy Management also includes more forward-thinking activities, such as creating financial projections for incorporating renewable energy services and adapting internal processes to lessen the need for electricity.

On average, energy represents 25% of all operating costs in an office building.

This expense can be reduced through proactive software management systems that include monitoring and optimization of an organization&#;s energy consumption.

Companies can also reduce their carbon footprint to meet both internal sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.

Energy Management & Technology

Energy Management is widely applicable across various industries. By leveraging software-based solutions, businesses can streamline their operations, boost productivity, and promote sustainable practices.

Most energy management programs utilize digital technology. A good example is utility tracking software, which predicts future energy usage and plans energy budgets.

This is certainly a valuable tool for decision-makers to ensure that their energy management strategy meets their objectives and financial planning.

Energy management software uses IoT, advanced connectivity, and big data.

This not only enables a corporation to take advantage of energy data analytics to improve energy management but also mitigate its many challenges.

One should not confuse this broad energy management description with energy efficiency despite the overlaps between the two fields.

EMS has many areas of application that include commercial and industrial properties, residential buildings, and municipalities.

Applications analyze real-time data as well as individual asset information to calculate ways to improve energy usage.

Here is a video by Fortree Power with an overview of EMS:

Steps in Energy Management

Energy management can be divided into four steps that produce value for suppliers and consumers alike:

1. Transparency

The initial step in any EMS project involves monitoring energy and analyzing the current state of the energy supply. The analysis is usually presented through numerical data and graphic visualizations.

These comprehensive reports offer a detailed and transparent insight into energy usage.

2. Optimization

Optimization derives from energy monitoring results, often consisting of a one-off measure like improved consumer metering or component replacements.

These measures translate to increased energy efficiency and lower overall costs.

Apart from reducing the total energy consumption, other goals are also fulfilled such as technical and regulatory requirements.

Examples include the minimum and maximum operating times of equipment or the optimization of grid charges.

3. Management

At the management level, electricity consumers, producers, and suppliers are analyzed to calculate economic or ecological peak efficiency.

Management measures differ from optimization measures as they are generally repeated and often automated.

Modern energy management incorporates conflicting goals into the management of components to achieve an overall optimum.

4. Integration

In short, integration involves a property that is continuously managed by an energy management software and optimized in the local or national energy market.

For example, energy procurement can become more flexible and automated to reduce energy procurement costs.

The integration of &#;flexible properties&#; into the electricity market offers financial benefits for the property user. It also has an overall increased macro-economic benefit for society.

What Does Energy Management Software Do?

Energy management solutions can include software and hardware components. They may encompass a range of devices, such as smart meters, sensors, and controllers, that work together with analytical software platforms.

Energy Management Software (sometimes known as Energy Efficiency Software) is able to track and manage energy usage:

  • Real-time meter monitoring
  • Controls for the consumption of energy for heating and cooling systems in real-time
  • Energy usage monitoring and dashboards
  • Sustainability and carbon usage reporting
  • Create analytics based on energy consumption, make predictions, and devise energy-saving strategies.
  • Take automated actions to cut energy usage
  • Generate reports
  • Manage on-site energy generation, storage, and electric vehicle (EV) charging

These systems are designed to monitor, manage, and ultimately reduce energy consumption while amplifying energy savings across the board.

Energy software solutions have a variety of features:

1. Monitoring

The core feature of energy management software is real-time monitoring which translates consumption levels into data.

Information is typically gathered from a variety of sources, such as utility meters, IoT devices, weather stations, and various sensors.

Software solutions perform advanced analytical to build accurate trends for power consumption, emissions, expenses, etc.

This information can then be used by companies as a yardstick for future energy-saving and sustainable initiatives.

2. Engaging

Using software to monitor real-time energy usage enables immediate notifications about consumption spikes or other anomalies.

The system can then take manual or automated actions to lower or streamline energy consumption.

A system connected to a larger grid contributes to reducing energy consumption and spending by dimming lights during off-hours. It can also help businesses to save and distribute surplus energy.

Software solutions provide instant feedback on how these actions affect energy usage and costs.

3. Reporting

Collecting data to compile reports is one of the key functions of industrial energy management software.

This software can save hundreds of hours filing reports and calculating complex formulas to identify the company&#;s environmental impact.

Analytics help users visualize different factors that affect their energy usage.

From this, energy efficiency strategies can be developed to gauge and monitor their effectiveness.

Common Features of Energy Management Software

Energy monitoring is the core of many energy management software, allowing users to view their energy usage at any point in time.

EMS provides reliable automation within the energy management process while streamlining it and boosting cost savings.

The software manages energy usage within internet-connected systems.

As IoT-connected devices become more prevalent, live monitoring sensors constantly transmit data to the energy efficiency software.

This management feature allows users to adjust a company&#;s energy consumption.

  • An analytics dashboard feature provides users with a real-time analysis of energy consumption across devices and systems. The dashboard produces visualizations that allow users to digest information easily.
  • The benchmarking feature allows users to assess their energy usage and efficiency performance against set benchmarks. This tool is useful for businesses that strive to achieve energy efficiency targets or reduce their energy consumption.
  • The report production feature produces reports on energy consumption for a given facility or multiple facilities. These energy monitoring reports can be used to make informed decisions about energy policy and reduce overall consumption.
  • The systems integration feature connects the software with all energy-consuming systems and devices within a given facility. To monitor energy consumption, energy management platforms must be connected to the devices they monitor to collect the necessary data.

Pros & Cons of Energy Management Systems

 The Benefits of Using Energy Management Systems

Improves energy efficiency: Energy management tools enable businesses to reduce their energy consumption by allowing the adjustment of consumption based on real-time data collected by monitoring devices.

Provides live data collection: Real-time energy consumption information aids managers in drafting and implementing energy policies via energy control systems focused on optimization.

Cloud-based energy management systems streamline energy data collection and provide easy access to that data.

The Challenges of Energy Management Systems

Energy management systems rely on complete and accurate real-time data collected from all energy-consuming components of a business.

All energy-reliant components must have an internet-connected sensor or device to transmit data to the energy management solution.

Security is a leading concern for any organization with a multitude of internet-connected devices.

An EMS typically connects to many different energy-consuming devices, which may expose the company to potential security breaches.

Security measures should be part of the initial energy management deliberations to address this concern.

This will provide a robust and secure solution to mitigate potential risks after implementation.

11 Best Energy Management Systems to Use in

There are a multitude of options for energy management systems, and many will meet your requirements.

But which software will be ideal for your company and help to reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint?

Here is our list of EMS top achievers:

Fluke Corporation

HQ Location

Everett, Washington, USA

Founded

Num. of Employees

1,001-5,000

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Fluke Energy Analyze Plus is a powerful software package designed to simplify data downloading, analysis, tracking, and reporting on power quality and energy data.

The software is equipped with user-friendly tools for data analysis that can assist you in obtaining crucial information about the energy consumption and power quality of your establishment.

Fluke Energy Analyze Plus offers flexibility and data analysis capabilities needed to make informed maintenance and facility management decisions.

Pro and Cons

Pros: Fluke Energy Analyzer software can be integrated with almost any device.

Real-time data empowers facility managers to proactively detect potential issues, thereby enhancing maintenance efficiency.

This helps users quickly identify and resolve issues causing excessive energy consumption, which leads to significant energy savings over time.

Cons: Fluke operates on Windows, and claims suggest that this makes the analytics process more cumbersome.

However, Energy Analyzer Plus can run Windows as a virtual machine on a Mac desktop.

Pricing

Fluke Energy Analyze does not provide pricing information and should be contacted directly to obtain current pricing.


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Johnson Controls

HQ Location

Cork, Ireland

Founded

Num. of Employees

10,001+

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Johnson Controls is a global leader in smart buildings, committed to creating safe, healthy, and sustainable spaces. With nearly 140 years of experience, they&#;ve continuously improved buildings and are now transforming them once again using award-winning digital technologies and services. Their focus is on artificial intelligence, data-driven solutions, and the concept of autonomous buildings.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Industry Leader: Johnson Controls is a well-established company with a strong reputation in building automation and energy management. This reputation translates to reliable technology and proven solutions.
    Comprehensiveness: Their OpenBlue platform offers a suite of software solutions that can manage various aspects of energy consumption, from HVAC and lighting to security and fire protection. This allows for a holistic approach to building efficiency.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Johnson Controls systems collect and analyze real-time data on energy usage. This allows for informed decision-making and continuous optimization of energy use.
    Cost Savings: Reduced energy consumption often leads to significant cost savings on utility bills. Johnson Controls claims their solutions can deliver substantial financial returns on investment.
  • Sustainability: By optimizing energy use, Johnson Controls solutions contribute to a smaller carbon footprint and a more sustainable future for buildings.

Cons

  • Complex Setup: Some users find Metasys complicated to set up initially.

Pricing

For specific pricing detail, please contact Johnson Controls directly.


Energy Elephant

HQ Location

Dublin, Ireland

Founded

Num. of Employees

11-50

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Energy Elephant is a multi-award-winning platform that provides a simple-to-use sustainability and energy management system to help organizations make better energy and sustainability decisions.

The company focuses on reducing costs, improving sustainability, and simplifying reporting.

The platform covers energy, water, waste, and greenhouse gas tracking, target setting, utility bill processing, reporting, analytics, and benchmarking.

Pros and Cons

Pros: A free trial of Energy Elephant is available.

Navigating the platform may be slow in the beginning, but it is an elaborate yet user-friendly tool that helps you to stay on top of your energy use tracking.

The software analytics saves a lot of manhours.

Cons: Some small businesses believe that the monthly subscription is too high.

Pricing

 Energy Elephant has 3 pricing editions, from $200 to $1,990 per month.


CopperTree Analytics

HQ Location

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Founded

Num. of Employees

11-50

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

CopperTree Analytics offers a building analytics solution with a focus on energy efficiency. Their key product is Kaizen.

Kaizen helps building owners and managers gain control of their energy use, make data-driven decisions, and achieve cost savings.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • The ability of Coppertree Kaizen software to centralize data from diverse sources and offer real-time insights into building performance.
  • The system also helps users to identify and prioritize areas for improvement.
  • Kaizen engages employees and encourages them to pinpoint issues and provide recommendations for corrections.

Cons

  • The learning curve can be difficult for novice users.

The reporting and visualization options in the program may be a bit limited to meet unique user demands.

Pricing

CopperTree Analytics should be contacted directly to obtain current pricing.


Envizi

HQ Location

Sydney, Australia

Founded

Num. of Employees

10,001+

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

IBM Envizi offers a cloud-based ESG suite, including modules for energy management. It gathers data from various sources, analyzes consumption, and identifies opportunities to reduce energy use. This helps companies track progress towards sustainability goals and potentially save on energy costs.

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Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Powerful data management: Envizi excels at handling complex data from different sources, creating a unified picture of your energy use.
  • Actionable insights: It goes beyond data collection, analyzing consumption and identifying areas for improvement.
  • Sustainability focus: Envizi helps track progress towards emission reduction goals, aligning with ESG initiatives.

Cons:

  • Costly: User reviews indicate Envizi can be expensive compared to other options.
  • Complexity: Setting up and learning the software can be challenging, requiring IT expertise.
  • Potential bugs: Some user reviews mention encountering software bugs.

Pricing

Offers modular pricing packages to suit companies of all sizes.


Brightly Energy Manager

HQ Location

Cary, North Carolina, USA

Founded

Num. of Employees

501-1,000

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Brightly Energy Manager allows organizations to manage their utilities, reduce waste, and reinvest in energy efficiency.

The software provides access to real-time data and advanced energy analytics.

Energy Manager enables data-driven discussions supported by intuitive reports and charts without prior energy expertise or training.

Easily identified billing errors and low-performing buildings result in operational savings.

Pros and Cons

Pros: The platform creates reports, charts, and graphs on use/cost, carbon emissions, budget data, utility billing information, avoided costs, and more.

Once customized, data input is straightforward, and the platform is user-friendly.

Cons: On the downside, the ability to download the information/data into a program for more in-depth analytics is lacking.

Pricing

 Contact Brightly Energy Manager to obtain current pricing.


EnergyCAP UtilityManagement

HQ Location

Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, USA

Founded

Num. of Employees

51-200

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

EnergyCAP UtilityManagement software is the award-winning foundation of a comprehensive utility bill accounting & energy management solution. EnergyCAP&#;s analysis and reporting functions deliver value across energy management, sustainability, accounting, and building operations.

EnergyCAP can identify inefficient facilities, evaluate the impact of energy conservation projects, and track emissions. It can communicate through live energy dashboards and provides a library of over 300 reports as well as streamline utility accounting and building operations.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Facility managers also benefit from access to comprehensive, detailed, and timely energy data through an easy-to-use, informative interface.

The EnergyCAP software, combined with its complementary services, enables you to work smarter and save more across your entire organization.

Cons: The dashboard and ENERGY STAR features should be updated more frequently, and the project management aspect could be improved.

Pricing

The Express Plan starts at $4,000.00. Contact EnergyCAP UtilityManagement for current and personalized pricing..


Spacewell Energy (Dexma)

HQ Location

Barcelona, Spain

Founded

Num. of Employees

51-200

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Spacewell Energy by Dexma serves over 10,000 organizations across 35 countries and is a leading Energy Management Software for commercial and industrial buildings.

The cloud-based AI software platform combines big data analytics with energy efficiency to detect, analyze, and optimize energy consumption and costs while becoming more sustainable.

In , the company founded its operations in Barcelona, Spain, and currently operates with a Global Partner Network comprising over 150 Energy Services Companies, Utilities, and Integrators.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Spacewell Energy by Dexma provides a user-friendly website, and the tools provided are complimented with resources linked to research conducted.

Dexma&#;s on-demand control and real-time data earn praise for conserving energy and saving costs. Compared to its competitors, Spacewell Energy by Dexma is a cost-effective energy solution.

Cons: A company review suggests adding more training videos for new users.

Automated reporting and customer service still require support staff to deal with customer queries.

Pricing

Contact Spacewell Energy by Dexma to obtain current pricing.


Cortex Intel

HQ Location

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Founded

Num. of Employees

11-50

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Cortex Intel is a software platform that learns how your equipment responds under different operating conditions.

The machine-learning platform delivers unique, daily start-up recommendations each morning.

These recommendations consider a broad range of variables to ensure that startup and shutdown times are optimized to save on energy usage.

The software analyses BMS data, meter data, billing history, occupancy information, and detailed weather forecasts that supersede human capability.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Cortex provides insight into day-to-day activities and recommends changes to decrease energy consumption.

Predictions from data analysis are highly accurate and help to overcome losses while increasing efficiency.

Cons: One review expressed concern over the collected data&#;s security.

Pricing

Contact Cortex Intel directly to obtain current pricing.


Simble

HQ Location

Sydney, Australia

Founded

Num. of Employees

11-50

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

Simble provides energy intelligence and productivity software solutions. Software as a Service (SaaS) technology solutions cover two main markets. These markets are the mobility and energy management markets.

The software identifies energy-saving opportunities across all operations.

Furthermore, the software also improves productivity, reduces operational costs, and enhances engagement with your employees, customers, and suppliers.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Simble actively uses 37 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. These include Viewport Meta, iPhone / Mobile Compatible, and SPF.

Real-time energy monitoring helps identify ways to improve profitability, which is also a great benefit.

Cons: Limited use and availability is a noted concern.

Pricing

Contact Simble directly to obtain current pricing.


Hark

HQ Location

Leeds, Yorkshire, UK

Founded

Num. of Employees

11-50

VISIT WEBSITE

Overview

The Hark Platform is an interconnected cloud-based sensor platform that allows users to monitor and gain insight into their environmental data in real time.

Any industry standard sensor can connect to the platform, offering a plug-and-play solution.

The use of data stored in the cloud achieves best-in-class security and worldwide access. The automated analysis provides unique insights into improving efficiency, maximizing yield, and subsequently reducing waste.

Pros and Cons

Pros: The platform is user-friendly. The Hark platform analytics on energy use identifies and maintains problem equipment and directly controls high-energy assets. This results in significant financial savings.

Cons: Connectivity might be a problem for a few sensors, largely due to initial layouts.

Pricing

The company negotiates prices with users for the three packages on offer, namely Hark Analytics, Hark Connect, and Hark Energy Tools.

Conclusion

Whether your organization is a small business, a large enterprise, or operates in a specific industry, there is an EMS solution tailored to meet your unique energy management needs.

By leveraging real-time data, analytics, and intelligent automation, these systems empower decision-makers with valuable insights and recommendations to optimize energy consumption, reduce carbon footprint, and drive long-term growth.

As energy management continues to be a critical aspect of business operations, investing in a robust EMS can provide a competitive edge, ensuring your organization remains at the forefront of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Energy Management System (EMS)?

An EMS is a system of computer-aided tools used by operators of electric utility grids to monitor, control, and optimize the performance of the generation and transmission system.

What features should you look for in an EMS?

Key features include real-time monitoring, data analytics, automated control systems, integration with renewable energy sources, and user-friendly interfaces.

ow can an EMS benefit a business or organization?

An EMS can help reduce energy costs, improve energy efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and support sustainability goals by providing detailed insights into energy usage and opportunities for optimization.

Are these systems suitable for both small and large-scale operations?

Yes, many EMS solutions are scalable and customizable to meet the needs of both small businesses and large industrial operations.

How do EMS solutions integrate with renewable energy sources?

EMS solutions can integrate with renewable energy sources by managing the production, storage, and distribution of renewable energy, optimizing the use of energy generated from sources like solar panels and wind turbines.

References

IBM: Energy Management

Enertiv: What is Energy Management?

ScienceDirect: Energy Management

MINDK: Energy Management Solutions

10 Best Energy Management Software

Why use SafetyCulture?

SafetyCulture is an award-winning mobile and web energy management software that utilizes digital checklists to give users visibility and insights into raising safety and quality standards across the organization. This easy-to-use checklist software is being used by over 26,000 organizations across all industries such as retail, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, facilities management, transport, and logistics. When it comes to energy management, not only is it able to track energy consumption, but it can also manage compliance with environmental and economic legislations through smart inspections and energy audits.

When it comes to checklists, you have the option to create your own or import your existing Excel, Word, and PDF checklists to get started. You can also choose to use one from the Public Library that is already set and ready for the energy management compliance standard you want to achieve or for the worker safety standard you want to maintain. Templates from the Public Library are also editable, allowing you to modify them so they better suit your energy management needs and operations. 

Checklists and completed inspection forms are then stored in the cloud, which can be accessed from anywhere. Using the completed inspection forms, you can also generate analytical reports to view your data at a glance and use them as a basis for further improvement in energy management, employee safety, and more. This makes SafetyCulture the best for organizations aiming to attain or improve their operational efficiency.

How to Use SafetyCulture as Your Energy Management Software

The company is the world’s best energy management software solution supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

  1. Convert an existing paper checklist or create one from scratch.
  2. You can now use your digital form anywhere using your mobile or tablet even while offline. You can also distribute the form to the appropriate personnel through the SafetyCulture form app.
  3. Once completed, the data from the digital form is automatically uploaded to the cloud to serve as your backup. If your inspection or assessment was done offline, the data will automatically sync the next time you connect to the internet.
  4. You can generate digital reports of your completed forms even while offline. These reports can also be distributed automatically to select personnel once a form or template is successfully completed. Reports can be exported in various formats for distribution.
  5. Lastly, SafetyCulture form builder can be integrated with external Business Intelligence tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Excel Online to automate your workflow each time a form is completed.