An Energy Management System is a computer system used to automatically control and monitor parts of a building that use a lot of energy, such as heating, air conditioning, and lighting. These systems can be used in one building or across many buildings, like schools, offices, stores, or factories. Many of these systems also read meters for electricity, gas, and water. The information collected from these meters helps check for problems, improve efficiency, and predict energy use over time.

Energy Management Systems are often used by businesses to monitor, measure, and control the energy use of their buildings. These systems can manage devices like heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units and lighting in multiple locations, such as stores, restaurants, and grocery shops. They also provide tools to track energy use, allowing managers to make better decisions about how energy is used.

A Smart Energy Management System (SEMS) is a type of system that uses artificial intelligence to adjust to new energy situations with little need for human help. These systems use machine learning models to predict energy use and production, which helps plan how energy systems operate. They also consider energy prices and use math-based methods to reduce energy costs.

Smart Energy Management Systems are used in homes, like the SoliTek NOVA, and in businesses and industries. These systems are important in smart grid projects because they support features like virtual power plants and adjusting energy use based on demand.

As more people use electric vehicles, small devices that manage when electric vehicles charge based on the total energy needed and available are becoming common. The market for energy management systems is expected to grow rapidly over the next 10 to 15 years.

Managing energy in smart grids, battery storage, electric vehicles, and renewable energy sources is an important use of the Internet of Things in smart homes and buildings.

Protocols

The S2 Standard was created in 2010 for use in homes and buildings. It provides a communication method that allows smart devices to talk to an energy management system (EMS). This open-source protocol helps manage energy use in devices that use a lot of power, such as solar panels, electric car chargers, batteries, heat pumps, and appliances like refrigerators. It is designed to work with any device from any company and can be used for any energy management situation. In 2018, the European Electrotechnical Committee for Standardization (CENELEC) approved the S2 Standard as a European standard, known as EN 50491–12.

An EMS improves energy efficiency by tracking detailed energy use for each piece of equipment. Modern cloud-based EMS systems can control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and other energy-consuming devices from a distance. They collect real-time data for each device and offer specific, real-time advice on how to find and use the best opportunities to save energy.