Using energy data insights for strategic planning in sustainable building transitions
With escalating energy costs, the value of sustainable buildings is rapidly growing. Not solely confined to their
environmental benefits, sustainable buildings also deliver economic and strategic advantages. However, to
properly plan their use requires rigorous analysis of energy data insights.
The value of energy data insights
Playing a crucial role in shaping strategy, energy data insights help integrate renewable energy into building
design, guiding policy changes for sustainability goals, managing resources effectively, and creating accurate
timelines for a smooth, affordable transition.
They come from sources such as real-time energy consumption, occupant behaviour, and renewable energy
generation, and offer a rich tapestry of information to aid decision-making.
Collecting this data is a key part of any energy management system (EMS) platform. The data allows
organisations to effectively bring together important information about buildings, devices, users, contracts,
and especially, energy usage, all in one place. Monitoring this information allows greater understanding of the
complex relationship between energy needs and outside factors, such as water use, factory production, how
busy a building is, weather, and air quality.
Data about carbon emissions and waste is often included because it relates to energy data and matches up
with sustainability goals. This all-rounded approach produces a complete understanding and management of a
building’s energy use.
Energy data as a strategic tool
By discovering underlying patterns and efficiencies, energy data guides long-term planning and action towards
sustainable buildings.
For example, it can show the need for energy-saving policies, such as requiring smart lighting systems in new
buildings. It can also help decide where to spend resources, such as improving building insulation or updating
heating and cooling systems.
EMS platforms provide real-time data monitoring of energy use in their buildings. This live data is important for
finding areas that aren't efficient and making changes quickly. These platforms also keep a record of past data,
which helps organisations spot long-term trends and plan strategically.
The role of renewable energy
A key part of turning buildings sustainable is using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
However, nature being unpredictable results in irregular energy supply, making it difficult to rely on having
energy at the right time.
It's therefore important to actively collect data on weather, temperature, and other climate conditions to be
able to figure out how to add these renewable energy systems to building design for efficient operations. By
looking at highs and lows in energy use data, planning for solar panels or wind turbines can be more strategic,
making sure renewable energy is available in periods of high demand and very little is wasted. With successful
integration of renewable energy, energy efficiency will improve, costs will go down, and a company's green
image can also be raised.
Implementation – translating plans into action
Supporting strategic planning, energy data helps make buildings more sustainable from the first planning
stages, through to the final steps, making the process smoother with less mistakes and guesswork.
For instance, some companies have used this information to successfully modernise their buildings, others have smartly added renewable energy sources to their existing buildings, and some have even turned all of their buildings into fully sustainable ones.
Conclusion
Effective strategic planning for sustainable building transitions demands the right data at the right time. Energy
data insights provide just that, turning sustainability strategies into evidence-backed reality. Is your organisation ready to make full use of its energy data to transition to sustainable buildings? Contact us today.