Real-time energy visualization system for light commercial businesses

• Published in: Sustainable energy technologies and assessments Vol. 34; no. C; pp. 68 - 76
• Main Authors: Smith, Nathaniel, Nimbarte, Ashish D., Gopalakrishnan, Bhaskaran, Wuest, Thorsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2019; Elsevier
• ISSN: 2213-1388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seta.2019.04.005

Several real-time Energy Visualization (EV) systems have emerged in the market in recent years with specific applications for large industrial and commercial facilities and residential buildings. However, light commercial businesses have been neglected with only a few attempts for EV solutions. In this study a framework for an economical, flexible, and plug and play EV system for the light commercial businesses is presented. It was hypothesized that the proposed framework will provide flexible yet cost effective energy efficiency solutions. Our specific contributions are (1) critical evaluation of existing EV systems, (2) development of framework with respect to operational, technical and budgetary challenges that are specific to light commercial businesses, (3) a computerized program to guide business owners through a step-by-step process involved in the development and installation of the EV system. To test the hypothesis, a field study was conducted by performing energy audits at 15 light commercial businesses. On average, the cost of the EV system was found to be 5% of the annual energy cost. Overall, the findings from our field study conclude that the proposed EV system is economical and flexible enough to address “varied and unique” energy efficiency requirements of light commercial businesses.