Energy Management Software is Critical to Driving NOI and Alleviating Administrative Burden

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH

Energy is typically a property operator’s greatest expense. The massive growth of LEED and Energy Star, over the last decade, are demonstrative of a momentous and invaluable trend. While there are innumerable aspects and ways to save energy (see below), the foundation of success is robust yet easy-to-use software. Energy management software must identify, alert and edify savings opportunities as well as ease the administration burden of reporting, tenant billing and budgeting. The capacity to tie energy software and proactive tenant engagement – tenant plug and light load is upwards of 45% of office energy consumption – provides leverage for even greater NOI improvement.

‘In 2014 there were more than 4 billion LEED certified square feet worldwide, and more than 25,000 Energy Star labels.’ – Green Building Special Report

LEED and Energy Star have become the de-facto standard for any healthy, efficient, productive and overall marketable commercial property. That said, considerable cost savings and efficiencies can be achieved in applying such standards even if every aspect of certification is unattainable. In other words, doing something is better than doing nothing. Energy software can be both a good start as well as a great tool for the seasoned property operator in driving greater NOI.

ETS’ integrated energy app (powered by industry-proven MACH Energy) offers robust yet easy-to-use energy analysis and management capabilities. Beyond assessing consumption and providing automated energy cost savings opportunities, the app helps drive Energy Star performance / administration, budgeting and tenant billing. Like other Electronic Tenant® Solutions’ apps, the offering provides portfolio-wide visibility into energy use and Energy Star performance.

Some key attributes and benefits of energy management software:

Increase NOI
Rapid ROI
Recover tenant expense
Foster operational consistency
Ease tenant billing
Automate report generation
Mitigate consumption 5 – 10%
Expense reduction
Alleviation of administrative burden
Fine tune operations
Control demand / demand response
Validate capital improvement investments
Low risk
Easy implementation
Actionable data
Increased equipment health/ lifespan
LEED / GRESB advancement
ETS Maintenance Center integrated
Meet tenant expectation mandate
Maintain / exceed Industry standards

It’s almost National Energy Awareness month; what else can be done to capitalize a broader awareness to advance energy consumption mitigation?

Engage tenant participation in mitigation efforts
Lower thermostat settings
Match HVAC schedules to occupancy schedules
Lower setback temperatures
Optimize morning warmup and night setback controls
Reduce/eliminate major sources of infiltration
Install a desiccant dehumidification system
Minimize use of outside air for process ventilation
Educate employees on building systems and energy efficiency measures
Check/adjust combustion efficiency of gas-fired equipment
Minimize the use of gas-fired refrigeration equipment
Check for ways to control solar gain to reduce the cooling load on buildings, including cool roofs or solar shading on windows
Install revolving doors
Install energy-efficient lighting and occupancy sensors
Install LED exit signs
– Courtesy of USGBC