What is Energy Management?

The term 'energy management' generally refers to the practice of saving power in businesses, homes and in the wider community. It is an important field of research and business practices because it informs and aids environmental conservation – vital for the preservation of our environment and way of life. These processes involve monitoring, controlling and finally conserving the use of power in a home or workplace.

These methods typically begin with metering the routine gas or electricity consumption of an office or industry workplace, analysing the use of power and estimating how many reductions in power use and waste can be made. Consumption data is taken during the whole day, week and month to determine when energy is used most and how much power is wasted during down times. Professionals in the field are adept at finding innovative solutions to reduce waste, sometimes by replacing faulty or demanding equipment or improving crucial elements of the construction of a building such as thermal insulation. Successful management processes also involve long term monitoring of the efficiency of work practices in industry or of a building as a whole.

Energy management can also include raising the awareness of employees of the need to conserve power during their daily work practices. It requires a truly comprehensive approach from its skilled practitioners.

It is also used continuously by power suppliers, such as gas and electricity companies, to ensure that enough power is generated to meet the demands of the consumer. Power suppliers often service large areas, including whole states or countries, so the processes used are at a highly sophisticated level. The energy management employed by suppliers can include building new infrastructure to supply gas or electricity to out of reach rural areas, developing and utilising renewable energy sources, preventing black-outs and improving the general efficiency of delivery methods.

This is an important practice in reducing costs for an organisation; as our global supply of fossil fuel gradually decreases, prices are steadily increasing. Implementing energy management in a workplace early can reduce the risk of future cost related disasters facilitated by a sudden lack of available energy.

Besides reducing costs, these practices are obviously important for reducing carbon emissions. Increasing pressure is being placed on various industries – targeted as the greatest producers of carbon emissions – by governments and environmental groups to develop more sustainable work practices. An effective energy management process is the only possible way to meet the consumption reduction targets that are being placed on industries and whole communities.