Load orchestration and energy management systems are valuable tools for managing energy-consuming devices and appliances in your facility. Because you cannot see everything happening in your business at once, an EMS comes with sensors that detect humidity, temperature, energy, daylight, gas, water and so on.
Installing EMS alone won’t bring substantial savings. Firms also need to know how to get data and analyze it and take action on the available information. If you have found a challenge then you are not alone. Everyone faces challenges and here are some common challenges you are likely to face and how to solve them.
Lack of documented standards
Implementing corporate-wide standards for things such as close and open hours or staggering starting times should be an important component of your energy strategy and approach when it comes to commissioning your energy control system.
Documentation and communication are important here. We have seen a lot of instances where these standards aren’t well-enforced or documented, or operational parameters may not have been configured properly during programming. The main objective is to capture the optimal configuration for your business, even if you end up with a lot of versions based on the type of location and building. Then, you should ensure you have the necessary support from within your company to implement and enforce the available standards. You need to think about who is going to be affected to ensure you address any concerns before you can roll out the standards.
Sensor location
During the installation of an energy management system, sensors are installed in a location that optimizes the performance of the system. However, over time, as facilities change and get remodeled, this ideal location could become a challenge. For example, you may install sensors in a good location before a tree was planted next to it but after a few years after a tree is planted next to it, the tree grows and casts a shade on the sensor. This may cause the light to come on during the middle of the day and you will discover that your sensor is not functioning properly.
Nuisance alarms
Alarms are important components of EMS but some alarms can be a nuisance. You can get to a place where you get overwhelmed by your alarms and start ignoring them. This can cause you to miss out on real issues. It is therefore important to come up with an alarm strategy that includes your entire portfolio with an alarm matrix that helps you to identify which alarms are important to you and which ones are not.
Improper maintenance
If you want to get the most out of load orchestration, you should keep your devices well-maintained. Your equipment needs maintenance and repair. When the technician is on-site, they may have silenced the alarm system or disconnected your assets from the control system whilst performing their work. They may then be in a hurry and leave the assets invisible to your EMS. You can address this by having a checkout procedure when maintenance is being conducted.
