EnMS and EMIS. What's the difference?- Enerit Ltd- Article
2
EnMS and EMIS. What’s the difference? Often we ask people, “Do you have an Energy Management System? What we mean by this is a full EnMS, like an ISO 50001 EnMS. Often, the other person says “Yes” but what they really mean is that they have a monitoring or energy data analysis system or a building energy management system (BMS/BEMS) for equipment control. “Energy management” is a term that is being used quite broadly at the moment. Clearly, it can mean very different things to different people. In this article we’re going to explain what the difference is between the two terms, Energy Management System (EnMS) and Energy Management Information System (EMIS). We aim to explain how an EMIS is part of a complete EnMS. The key is how one integrates them! An EnMS is a framework by which an organisation establishes processes to achieve control and improvement of energy performance – a systematic approach to energy management. Think of an EnMS as the umbrella under which those processes relate and interact. An EnMS is often viewed as having two aspects: “Management” and “Technical”. The relationship diagram below supports this concept. The left hand side of the diagram illustrates the “Management” type processes involved in an EnMS, such as, gaining management commitment (e.g. top management providing necessary resources for the EnMS to be successful), the establishment of good systems for audits, corrective actions and management review. It also guides an organization towards nurturing and promoting an energy efficient culture by training, communicating and promoting good energy saving practices effectively with all staff from top management downwards. On the right, the “Technical” processes involved are illustrated, such as, energy planning (e.g. establishing an action plan based on relevant objectives and targets, realised during an energy review, establishing an energy baseline, Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs)), Monitoring, Measurement and Verifying action plan results. Within this analysis, an EMIS deals directly with monitoring and measurement.
-
Upload
enerit-ltd -
Category
Technology
-
view
160 -
download
3
description
Enerit's Mark McCaffrey and Paul Monaghan take a look at the differences between an Energy Management System (EnMS) and an Energy Management Information System (EMIS). This article was published in Energy Manager Today on December 12th 2012.
Transcript of EnMS and EMIS. What's the difference?- Enerit Ltd- Article
EnMS and EMIS. What’s the difference?
Often we ask people, “Do you have an Energy Management System? What we mean by this
is a full EnMS, like an ISO 50001 EnMS. Often, the other person says “Yes” but what they really
mean is that they have a monitoring or energy data analysis system or a building energy
management system (BMS/BEMS) for equipment control.
“Energy management” is a term that is being used quite broadly at the moment. Clearly, it
can mean very different things to different people. In this article we’re going to explain what
the difference is between the two terms, Energy Management System (EnMS) and Energy
Management Information System (EMIS).
We aim to explain how an EMIS is part of a complete EnMS. The key is how one integrates
them!
An EnMS is a framework by which an organisation establishes processes to achieve control
and improvement of energy performance – a systematic approach to energy management.
Think of an EnMS as the umbrella under which those processes relate and interact. An EnMS is
often viewed as having two aspects: “Management” and “Technical”. The relationship
diagram below supports this concept.
The left hand side of the diagram illustrates the “Management” type processes involved in an
EnMS, such as, gaining management commitment (e.g. top management providing
necessary resources for the EnMS to be successful), the establishment of good systems for
audits, corrective actions and management review. It also guides an organization towards
nurturing and promoting an energy efficient culture by training, communicating and
promoting good energy saving practices effectively with all staff from top management
downwards.
On the right, the “Technical” processes involved are illustrated, such as, energy planning
(e.g. establishing an action plan based on relevant objectives and targets, realised during
an energy review, establishing an energy baseline, Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs)),
Monitoring, Measurement and Verifying action plan results. Within this analysis, an EMIS deals
directly with monitoring and measurement.
The EMIS is a critical part of the EnMS. The EMIS collects data that supports very many aspects
of the EnMS (the energy review, the calculation of an energy baseline, EnPIs, and to verify
the action plan results). However, the EMIS delivers no value unless the right data is collected
and it is analysed and used in the right way.
For example, we have often heard the following statements:
“I never have time to look at the data”;
“We are swamped with data”;
“We have 100 meters for electrical consumption but only 1 meter for steam”;
“I can’t remember how to generate new energy reports”
“I do a lot of work producing great energy reports but no-one does anything with
them”.
These statements are clear signs of a non-systematic approach to energy management.
This is where the EnMS supports the EMIS investment. For example, the EnMS:
ensures that the team has objectives set and time allocated for energy reporting;
defines the key data to be analysed and what the important EnPIs (Energy
Performance Indicators) are;
based on SEUs (Significant Energy Uses), defines the key locations where metering
investment is really needed;
ensures training is well managed;
ensures continuous action is driven by key performance data, based on clear policy
and energy management plans
The bottom line: EMIS is an important part of the EnMS; EMIS data (properly used) supports
good EnMS decision-making; the EnMS guides EMIS design and ensures good return on the
EMIS investment.
Author: Mark McCaffrey Energy Engineer, Enerit Ltd
Co. Author: Paul F. Monaghan Ph.D., CEO, Enerit Ltd
*****
Note* This article was also published on the online Magazine Energy Manager Today. You
can view this article here.
Contact Details for Enerit
Telephone:
Head Office (Ireland) +353 (0) 91 709830,
US (New York) 1 347 2305887
UK (London) + 44 (0) 203 393 3113
Website: www.enerit.com
Email: [email protected]
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/enerit-ltd
Twitter: @Enerit_Energy
Head Office (Ireland)
US Office (New York)
Enerit Ltd,
QSET Building,
Parkmore West Business Park,
Galway,
Ireland
Enerit Ltd,
US 280 Madison Avenue,
#912 - 9th Floor,
New York,
NY 10016, USA
