What are business energy monitor systems?
Business energy monitors are devices or systems designed to track and analyse energy consumption within a commercial environment.
They provide regular, up-to-the-minute insights into energy usage patterns, allowing businesses to identify inefficiencies, track energy costs, and optimise their energy usage.
Energy monitors function by interacting with a sensor situated on your business electricity meter. This sensor measures the electrical current passing through it and relays these findings to the energy monitor, which in turn converts this information into data visualisations on factors such as costs, energy used and CO2 emissions.
Why use business energy monitors?
Using business energy monitors enables you to deep dive into the whys, wheres and hows of your energy usage, providing you with detailed data from which you can make energy-saving decisions.
Here are some of the key benefits of using business energy monitors:
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Reducing costs by enhancing energy efficiency
By providing insights into energy usage patterns and identifying areas of inefficiency, energy monitors help businesses reduce costs by becoming more energy efficient.
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Gathering real-time energy data
As energy monitors provide you with real-time data on how much energy you are using, you are empowered to know exactly when and how you can reduce your energy usage. By measuring your utilities over a period of time, you can spot patterns of electricity, gas and water use. The benefit to this is you can pinpoint any needless energy usage and reduce accordingly.
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Improve operational efficiency
Energy monitoring systems lead to an overall improvement in your operations, as you can set up alerts to notify you when your business is using abnormally large quantities of energy and act accordingly. For example, if you discover lighting costs are taking up a sizeable chunk of your energy bill, you can install energy-efficient lighting and motion sensors. This can make a sizeable difference to your bottom line.
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Improve equipment performance
Energy monitors can detect potential anomalies in energy usage that indicate problems with equipment or machinery. By identifying these issues early, users can address maintenance issues before they escalate into costly repairs or replacements.
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Enhance your company’s brand image
Business owners are increasingly conscious of their environmental footprint. Not only are you under pressure to meet net-zero targets, but highlighting your business’ green credentials is becoming increasingly important for attracting customers.
Clear, in-depth data generated by energy monitors allows for the accurate reporting and decision making required to improve your brand’s environmental reputation. Additionally, cutting carbon emissions and reducing energy usage helps your business meet government targets, putting you in line for potential rewards.[1]
How much does a business energy monitor cost?
Business energy monitors range from £20 to well upwards of £200 in cost. However, it should be noted the best energy monitor isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.
The best business energy monitor is the one that best suits your business’ needs. Different businesses have different requirements. Analyse the features offered by different energy monitors, compare online reviews thoroughly, taking special notice of reviews from other business owners in your industry, and ensure that the energy monitor you opt for is user-friendly.
Some business energy suppliers offer free energy monitors. These may only be available if you opt into one of their business energy deals. When the time comes to renew or switch supplier, ensure you explore all the options and determine what is the most cost-effective way for you to move forward.
How much money can you save with a business energy monitor?
While a business energy monitor won't directly save money on its own, it can provide invaluable insights to help identify opportunities for cost and energy savings within the workplace.
By monitoring real-time energy data provided by energy monitors, businesses can pinpoint inefficiencies, identify areas of excessive consumption, and track the effectiveness of energy-saving measures.
Armed with this knowledge, businesses can make informed decisions to optimise their energy usage, such as installing or maintaining equipment, adjusting operating schedules, or petitioning employees to be more energy-conscious e.g., a ‘lights-off’ culture when you leave a room.
Energy monitoring systems vs Smart meters: What’s the difference?
There’s little to no difference between energy monitors and smart meters when it comes to monitoring your energy usage. Both provide you with handy data visualisations of your real-time energy consumption.
The key difference between the two is that smart meters automatically send meter readings to your supplier, meaning you are accurately billed for your energy consumption and do not have to manually provide your supplier with meter readings.
As such, if you have a smart meter installed, there’s no need to purchase an energy monitor. However, one thing to note is that some smart meters stop functioning when you switch business energy supplier, however an energy monitor will work regardless of how many times you switch.[2]