Prevent Small Issues from Becoming Big Headaches: How Interval Data Empowers Serious Cost Savings

In today’s resource management landscape, real-time monitoring isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for both your wallet and the environment. Interval data, which provides granular resource consumption information at short, regular intervals (e.g., every 15 minutes), has emerged as a powerful tool for uncovering inefficiencies and enabling immediate corrective actions. This blog will explore the critical role of interval data in energy and water management, demonstrating how solutions like EnergyCAP’s industry-leading energy and sustainability data management software can help organizations achieve serious cost and resource savings.

Why is interval data essential for water conservation and cost savings?

Interval data revolutionizes traditional resource management by providing detailed, real-time visibility into both energy and water consumption. As Melanie Stewart, Sustainability Manager at Optimized Systems, highlighted during the “Energy Savings Unlocked” panel discussion, “The best use of real-time information is finding problems before they become really big problems.” Stewart shared real-world examples where organizations could have avoided significant financial losses if interval data had been available.

For instance, a community college faced a $20,000 increase in their water bill due to an undetected leak flowing straight into a floor drain. Without granular meter data, pinpointing the issue immediately was impossible. By incorporating submeters and monitoring at the building level, the institution could have identified the anomaly right away, enabling quicker intervention and significant cost savings.

Another fun water story is when Melanie’s team had to miss an important Measurement and Verification (M&V) meeting because of a chilled water leak on campus. The problem? That particular campus didn’t have water meters, so they didn’t know where the leak was, so staff spent the day walking around campus searching for squishy spots in the grass to locate it. If they had real-time data, they could have pinpointed the issue immediately, saving time and resources.

Real-time data for proactive energy management

Using interval data allows facility managers to act on anomalies as they occur, avoiding prolonged periods of waste. Stewart noted, “If you’re metered down to the building level, then you have a very defined area to go look for that problem and save yourself a lot of money.” This proactive approach to resource monitoring not only prevents financial losses, but also contributes to broader sustainability goals by reducing unnecessary energy and water consumption.

Mike Hoffman, Energy Manager at the University of Arizona, further illustrated the value of real-time data for managing peak demand and utility costs. The university utilizes interval data to monitor demand at substations, enabling them to switch to thermal energy storage systems when nearing peak usage. This proactive management saves the university between half a million and a million dollars annually in avoided electric costs by effectively controlling demand and circumventing peak-related charges.

Making the case for interval data: dollars and sense

For decision-makers, the financial impact of resource efficiency measures is a top priority. As Hoffman pointed out, “When you’re talking about senior leadership, especially at the C-suite level, dollars are king.” The ability to demonstrate cost savings through actionable insights from interval data makes it easier to justify investments in monitoring technology.

By leveraging real-time meter data, organizations can avoid unnecessary utility expenses and make informed decisions about when to implement conservation measures. This is particularly valuable for budgeting, where savings achieved through proactive resource monitoring can be reallocated toward other projects or reinvested in additional efficiency initiatives.

How EnergyCAP supports optimal energy and water monitoring

EnergyCAP is the most trusted energy and sustainability data management software on the market, providing comprehensive solutions for utility bill data management, building benchmarking, and real-time metering. Here’s why EnergyCAP is the tool you need for effective energy and water monitoring:

• Utility bill data management: EnergyCAP helps you manage both energy and water data effectively, enabling you to detect irregularities and areas of excessive resource use. With over 40 years of experience in utility data accuracy, EnergyCAP is a proven leader in turning data into actionable insights.
• Building benchmarking: Compare building performance against industry standards and peers to identify inefficiencies. EnergyCAP’s benchmarking tools allow you to prioritize opportunities for improvement and validate the impact of conservation projects.
• Real-time metering: Monitor resource usage in real-time to make immediate adjustments that can lower costs. EnergyCAP’s real-time metering capabilities enable a proactive approach to both energy and water management, allowing you to quickly respond to unexpected usage patterns.
• ROI tracking and reporting: Quantifying the return on investment from resource-saving projects is essential for securing stakeholder buy-in. EnergyCAP’s advanced analytics and reporting features make it easy to track and communicate the financial impact of your energy and water management initiatives.

Unlock serious savings: watch the full webinar

To learn how leading organizations are using interval data to drive significant energy and water savings, watch our webinar, “Energy Savings Unlocked: A Panel Discussion on Energy Management Best Practices & ROI.” Join experts Melanie Stewart, Sustainability Manager at Optimized Systems, and Mike Hoffman, Energy Manager at the University of Arizona, as they share proven strategies and real-life applications that have resulted in substantial cost reductions.

Watch the full webinar and explore how you can unlock the power of interval data for optimal energy and water management.