Using energy to create heat that no one uses is the same as throwing money out the window. Not only is it unnecessary and bad for the environment, but you might also be caught short when the electricity bill arrives.
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In the past, it might have been difficult to find a good midpoint between icy outdoor temperatures and stuffy indoor heat in the winter, but this is no longer the case. In Europe, buildings account for around 40% of total energy consumption. This means that it pays to take better care of the energy we create. Here are some tips for sending you on the path to greener consumption:
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1. Be aware of energy consumption
Enova's research shows that simply being aware of energy consumption can help you save up to 5%. Additionally, getting something down on paper makes it easier to identify and implement energy-saving measures. How much energy do we want to use? How many emissions will we save the environment from?
2. Evaluate the technical system
Failure or improper use of technical systems often leads to increased energy consumption. Assessing the system's condition is the first step in identifying energy loss. Continuous monitoring is a good investment for your wallet and the environment – you'll notice discrepancies sooner!
3. Use an energy management system
Tip
Energy data that requires manual handling gets forgotten after a while. An energy monitoring system (EOS) can be a good tool for fully understanding the system's energy consumption.
4. "Rehabilitate" old buildings
Old buildings often use more energy, but this doesn't mean you should build new ones. There are many ways to optimize old systems, for example, with IWMAC's add-on Smart functions.
In older buildings, you will often find an old central heating system from one supplier and a heat pump from another. Our SCADA solution becomes the "interpreter" between these systems and provides easy integration with everything you need to optimize.
5. Monitor your energy consumption
If you have a system that doesn't have some form of load control, you're probably using more energy than necessary. If your energy consumption suddenly increases, your energy bill can get expensive, something you'll be paying for for a long time afterward. With a smart guard, you can ensure your spending is always below the limit. This way, you can easily avoid throwing energy out the window.
6. Heat where needed
Zone management is worth its weight in gold when discussing saving energy and is more relevant than ever. There is a big difference between the heat and ventilation required when the building is half full and when it's jam-packed.
You can set up IoT sensors that provide information about how the building is used. The SCADA system can then automatically stop heating the parts of the building that are left empty without the need to lay a single cable.
7. Control using calendar and weather forecasts
Holidays and weekends are the typical times we know the building will be empty. It pays to keep a good base temperature while also saving energy. Afraid that the building won't be warm enough tomorrow morning? You can easily solve this with calendar-based control.
It's also nice to manage the building according to the weather, not what it is right now. Why not turn off the temperature in the building three hours before it becomes warm outside? As such, forecast-based control is a clever way to prepare the installation.
Why save thousands on your electricity bill?
… other than for the money saved? There are many reasons to put energy efficiency on your list of priorities.
We spend a lot of time indoors in the Nordic countries. Incorrect temperature is one of the most significant contributors to poor indoor air quality. Ever complained about "bad" air? Often this means it's too hot. Increased heat also makes us more vulnerable to pollutants in the air, and the ventilation system usually has to work twice as hard.
Saving energy also benefits the environment and helps us to reduce unnecessary emissions and meet our sustainability goals. It is also good for your body, soul, and conscience.
So leave the birds to get chilly – waste less heat and have lower energy bills.