BEMS can make ESG energy reduction as easy as IoT

While most companies embrace the value of ecologically beneficial requirements, many of them feel daunted by sustainability reporting standards and frameworks. Without a system to monitor changes and inefficiencies, it is difficult for companies to assess and reduce their energy usage.

According to Matthew Margetts, Smarter Technologies Group Director of Sales, and Marketing, building an energy management system (BEMS) can harness the power of technology to help companies enhance transparency and communication of their climate-change data and efforts.

Building energy management is a cornerstone of building energy sustainability, net-zero targets, and ESG reporting. Digitising building systems management also enables building managers to focus on occupant health and well-being, conduct proactive performance improvements and make buildings more human-centric. Essentially, making a building smarter makes it more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

What is a BEMS?

A building energy management system (BEMS) is a sophisticated building management solution that allows buildings to become smarter, more interconnected, responsive, and adaptable. The system consists of software and hardware that allow you to monitor, analyse, and control every aspect of an estate’s energy consumption, from lighting to HVAC. Critically, the software provides consumption data that allows you to identify where energy savings can be made.

Turning data into opportunities

The key to the power of BEMS is that energy consumption isn't just monitored; it’s analysed and instantly optimised to deliver immediate energy savings across your entire estate. Integrating a building energy management system into your premises allows you to:

Control lighting and heating in relation to room occupancy
Keep building occupants comfortable and productive
Monitor energy consumption against factors that influence it (e.g. outside air temperature)
Modify building services around operational requirements
Identify energy inefficiency and keep track of energy consumption trends
Save money on your energy costs
Reduce your carbon footprint
Forecast proactive maintenance activities and end-of-life failures

And because a BEMS analyses when and where energy is being used, you’ll be able to set limits and targets based on usage profiles that increase the efficiency of your business.

BEMS benefits

Improved operational efficiency and reduction in operational costs
Better operations and maintenance of a connected, healthy workplace
Better occupant experience, comfort, and safety
Renewable energy generation load balancing · Reduce payments to the Government’s CCL (Climate Change Levy)
Drive energy sustainability across community ecosystems
Energy and environmental footprint management
Lower energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Enhance corporate social responsibility
Improve stakeholder value

BEMS crucial in achieving net-zero emissions targets and ESG requirements

Net-zero emissions policies and corporate environmental ESG goals act as catalysts for this drive toward better energy management and the reduction of energy use in buildings. Along with energy reduction, employee well-being and ethical working practices are also important ESG criteria. All these factors now play an influential role in the investment community's financial decisions.

BEMS can deliver on these objectives by lowering the energy intensity of buildings and improving occupant experiences. As such, the implementation of building energy management systems will continue to increase.