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Driving energy efficiency with data
23 July 2025
Ever heard the phrase "You can’t manage what you can’t measure"? By monitoring energy consumption in real-time, facilities managers can improve sustainability and reduce costs, says Claire Robinson

RISING ENERGY costs, ambitious net-zero targets and increasingly stringent regulations have all made energy efficiency a top priority for businesses. The Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requires large organisations in the UK to report their energy use.
They must also provide information about their carbon emissions. Similarly, under The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), companies must regularly audit energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Energy monitoring is important for understanding this complex situation and helps businesses manage their energy and electricity use effectively.
Energy monitoring empowers businesses, offering real-time insights into inefficiencies and the amount of electricity they produce across operations. By analysing consumption patterns, FMs can find trends and spot areas with high usage. This includes old HVAC systems, outdated lighting and energy-wasting habits, such as forgetting to turn the lights off. Monitoring is the first step and will help determine the required interventions.
Introducing energy monitoring systems can be complex, with several hurdles. A prominent issue is the compatibility of new systems with legacy infrastructure, which may require costly upgrades or workarounds. The installation can also be challenging and intricate, with FMs trying to navigate budget constraints and keep operational disruptions to a minimum.
Modern energy monitoring solutions, such as IoT sensors, sub-metering systems, and real-time dashboards, provide detailed insights that drive efficiency. These tools enable predictive maintenance, automate optimisation strategies like HVAC adjustments, and help manage peak loads to prevent energy spikes.
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