Sub-metering systems enable you to break down where and when your overall energy is used.
Before installing the system, a site survey should be carried out to understand the overall energy usages that will then develop a careful plan to match the client’s expectations.
As sub-metering systems are very versatile and flexible they have a number of options depending on your needs and the building’s complexity.
Sub-metering systems can be used to collect data in different areas of the building being as simple or as extensive as required to achieve the expectations and goals.
Initially, a sub-metering system can be used to collect consumption data at a high level to monitor the key energy drivers within the building, such as main distribution switchboards, and later monitoring down to a lower level, such as the individual HVAC system plant components.
Secondly, a sub-metering system can be used at a fiscal level within multi-let properties to recover the overall energy costs.
For instance, you may have individual tenants leasing a floor, parts of a floor, a number of floors of offices, retail units and even a gymnasium.
Each of these tenants will consume energy very differently so it would be unfair to simply split the bill on an area occupied basis.
Instead, a tenant sub-metering system can be used to collect data for individual tenants within the multi-let site. Using the consumption data, tenants can be billed on their actual electric consumption.
A further benefit of this is that the consumption data can also be used to raise awareness about how much electricity individual tenants are consuming.
By making the tenants aware of what they are consuming, they are more likely to make a conscious effort to reduce their energy consumption.
AMR (Automatic Meter Reads) can also be applied to gas and water supplies. Both gas and water AMR can be used to collect half-hourly data from various areas within the building so using this data it will be possible, for example, to calculate the amount of gas that is used to heat the building and how much gas is being used by the kitchen areas.
