International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4Issue4- April 2013
Energy Information System
Energy Information System Technologies
Bheemi Reddy Sandeep Reddy#1, Badugu Suresh*2
#
IV/IV B. Tech, Department of Electronics and Communications, K.L. University
Andhra Pradesh, India
*
Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communications, K.L. University
Andhra Pradesh, India
Abstract— This paper describes how strategies that can be
used to reduce electric load using Energy Information
System (EIS), which can monitor and analyze building energy
II.
EIS ARCHITECTURE
consumption and related data through wireless systems have
been increasing in use over the last decade.
The objectives of this report
1. Provide a review of the basic capabilities of various types of
EIS products
3. Provide a review of EIS technology from system architecture to
application
4. Review prospects for future use and capabilities of EIS
products
Keywords-electric load; monitor; analyze; wireless systems;
technology;future (key words)
I.
INTRODUCTION
Energy Information Systems (EIS) refer to software, data
acquisition hardware [1], and communication systems
administered by a company, partnership, or collective to
provide energy information to commercial building energy
managers, facility managers, financial managers and electric
utilities.
Data types commonly processed by EIS include
energy consumption data [1], building characteristics, building
system data, such as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning
(HVAC) and lighting data, weather data, energy price signals,
and energy demand-response event information. This report
summarizes key features available in today’s EIS, along with a
categorization framework to understand the relationship
between EIS, Energy Management and Control Systems
(EMCS’s) [1], and similar technologies.
The meter measures the energy usage of a certain
type of equipment installed in the building (e.g. lighting,
elevators, heating, cooling, core and shell, tenant sub
metering). Submetering installed to allocate the utility bill
among tenants is considered system-level metering in this
report.
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1. Building energy consumption data are collected by
metering devices installed at building sites.
2. Dispatched via a gateway [2] or other communication
device.
3. Through an internet connection or telephone line to a
database server located at an EIS service provider’s physical
site.
4. The offsite database server stores and archives this data and
5. EIS users access the database server remotely using a web
browser.
The application program installed on the database
server provides a user-friendly interface [1] to facilitate energy
management and utility programs. The software commonly
provides data visualization and may include additional
features such as the ability to download raw data.
2.1. Benefits of EIS for Operators:
The primary benefit of an EIS is to assist facility
operators, owners, and other decision makers to manage
building energy use. An EIS helps operators and energy
managers understand the energy use patterns of their building
or buildings, including issues such as:
 Timing and magnitude of peak electric demand.
 Daily load shapes.
 Historic baseline energy use [2].
 Unexpected operation schedules.
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Cost variations by hour, day, week, month, and year.
III.
TYPES OF ENERGY INFORMATION SYSTEM
Energy Information Systems have evolved out of the
electric utility industry in order to manage time-series electric
consumption data. EIS are closely related to many remote
monitoring and control technologies [2] . Many of these systems
are quite new technologies, and are somewhat overlapping and
changing quickly as the market unfolds.
EIS are categorized into 4 types
Web-base EMCS Interfaces (Web-EMCS) have the
capability to access an EMCS [1] and retrieve monitored data,
while Utility EIS usually (though not always) access only the
electric meters installed by utility companies. In this case,
each site is required to install additional communication
devices. Popular types of data to retrieve are chiller power and
tons, air temperature, and end-use electric loads which are
useful for building system analysis. These detailed data allow
users to perform component-level system diagnostics. Some
EIS can remotely control the set points within an EMCS via a
communication device. Popular control strategies include
modifying thermostat settings, disabling or reducing chiller
operation, dimming interior lighting, and disabling elevators.
This functionality can be used to reduce electricity
consumption during a demand curtailment event. In this case,
Web-EMCS [2] and DRS functionality overlap.
IV.
3.1. Utility Energy Information Systems (Utility EIS):
Utility EIS are the most basic EIS. Their main purpose
is to provide utility customers with easy access to their energy
data. Some of the Utility EIS are provided by utility
companies as optional services. Their basic functions are data
acquisition [2], tabular and graphical visualization, and rate
calculation and comparison.
3.2. Demand Response Systems (DRS):
Demand Response Systems (DRS) are a powerful tool
to execute DR Programs offered by electricity providers. DRS
basically work as real-time communication gateways between
energy providers and their customers. For customers with
multiple facilities, DRS enable energy managers to organize
their energy data simultaneously and remotely, and enable
users and program managers to implement the procedures and
verify the participants’ demand (kW) savings.
3.3. Enterprise Energy Management (EEM):
Enterprise Energy Management (EEM) refers to EIS
that have advanced data analysis and benchmarking features
not found in basic EIS. Multi-Facility Clients are the major
target users. EEM are used to compare and benchmark [2]
energy use among a portfolio of buildings by plotting energyuse data for multiple buildings [2], normalizing by area or
weather. These normalized comparisons allow operators and
energy managers to determine how buildings compare and if
one month, day, or hour has high energy-use or unusual
operation relative to a baseline.
3.4. Web-base EMCS Interfaces (Web-EMCS):
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ENERGY INFORMATION SYSTEM
TECHNOLOGIES
EEM(Enterprise Energy Management) Suite
IMDS(Information Monitoring Diagnostic System)
GEM net(GSA Energy and Maintenance Network)
Vykon Energy Suite
WIZEM Technology
4.1. EEM SUITE:
EEM Suite is a web-based energy analysis tool for monitoring
and analyzing building data with the use of various graphical
charts. EEM Suite [3] has a number of functions to analyze
whole building energy consumption and energy cost data for
multiple buildings. It can also track component-level data to
help operators conduct more detailed system diagnostics.
A two-way gateway system was installed on the EMCS,
enabling the EIS to retrieve monitored data [3] from the EMCS.
UCSB energy staff also installed a number of new electric
meters and gas meters and connected them to the EMCS and
the EIS. The EIS is capable of sending control signals [4] to the
EMCS via the Internet. Implementation of web-based control
function is planned for future demand reduction activities.
4.2. IMDS:
The IMDS (Information Monitoring and Diagnostic
System) was developed and evaluated as a collaborative effort
among researchers, building property managers, and private
industry. The IMDS consists of a set of high-quality sensors,
data acquisition software and hardware, and data visualization
software, including a web-based remote access system [1] .
IMDS consists of ENFLEX Data Acquisition System and
Control.
4.2.1. ENFLEX DAQ & CONTROL:
The EnFlex is a TCP/IP network host for
interconnecting a variety of networked facility systems and
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devices. It has built-in pulse counters that allow it to receive
inputs from electricity, water, gas, and other types of meters
and transducers [4]. It provides the ability to locally manage
multiple data acquisition and control systems and distribute
information to and from connected devices over TCP/IP
networks including the Internet.
ENFLEX contains 20 MB compact flash disk and with an
integral 1.2 GB hard disk drive for applications with large data
storage requirements. It is also available with an optional
keypad and display for configuration and monitoring [5].
4.2.2. KEY FEATURES:
 Standalone gateway/controller
 Hosts EnFlex software
 TCP/IP Networking with HTTP Web server
 Space for user programs and data
 10 Mbps Ethernet port
 3 pulse counters for utility meters
 5 serial ports for connecting to
 external devices and networks
 2 Expansion Ports
 Console Port
 Sensor bus port - supports up to 32
4.2.3. APPLICATIONS:
 Stand-alone intelligent utility meter interface
 Real-time metering &sub-metering
 Gateway to third-party networks and devices
 Facility management
 Generator monitoring and control
 Environmental monitoring
 Data acquisition
 Security and access monitoring
4.3. GEM net:
GSA(General Services Administration) Energy and
Maintenance Network
GEM net is a collection of information technology initiatives,
including computerized maintenance management systems
(CMMS) to efficiently manage maintenance work orders, and
remote monitoring and control systems [6] to reduce
operational costs by improving energy efficiency and reducing
peak demand.
GEM net has a monthly utility bill data archive and analysis
tool. It summarizes current and historical electricity and gas
consumption and cost [6].
CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System)
software maintains a schedule for preventive maintenance on
building equipment. The CMMS in GEM net is a combination
of several applications [1].
Maximo, the preventive maintenance software, creates work
orders based on the equipment lifetime and maintains a history
of all work done [1] .
GEM net includes
 PACRAT Diagnoses System
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WEBCTRL
BAC NET Router
4.3.1. PACRAT:
GSA is currently testing a diagnostic tool, PACRAT, a
database software tool for utilizing EMCS trend data to
improve facility operations and planning. PACRAT diagnoses
system problems and poor performance based on combination
of parameters obtained from EMCS data [1] . When identified
an anomaly, it diagnoses the possible cause and provide a
solutions. PACRAT also identifies energy wastes by
estimating energy usage of the optimal operation.
FUNCTIONS:
 HVAC fault Diagnosis
 Documentation of system performance
 Measuring and Verification tool
 Data visualization tool
4.3.2. WEBCTRL:
Web CTRL is a front-end workstation system for
building automation that facilitates data communication
between terminals and the main computer with multiple
standard and non-standard protocols. Web CTRL
communicates with building components directly with or from
the EMCS [7].
Web CTRL also facilitates remote control of set points
through web browser.
It provides total building operation and optimization
alarm monitoring of your building system. We can use in any
desktop, laptop or web enabled cell phone.
No special software is required. We can monitor through
standard internet browser [7] .
4.3.3. FUNCTIONS:
 Set and Change schedules
 Adjust Set points and other control parameters
 Graphically trend important building conditions
 View and acknowledgment of alarms & events
 Uses the language of the web(HTTP) to communicate
over the internet or intranet without special software
or plug-ins
 Supports on Windows, Linux & Sun solaris
 Uses sophisticated system protection with multilevel
passwords and secure socket layer with 128 bit
encryption for security.
4.3.4. BAC NET Router:
It acts as a gateway that provides the system building blocks
for networking, integrating and controlling your building.
It supports wired and wireless IP routers can complete the
connectivity process [8] .
BAC net provides flexibility by allowing multiple types
of transport system to be used to convey these messages
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between devices. The transport system uses different types of
electronic messaging standards and methods to convey coded
messages [8] .
Niagara Framework creates a common environment that
connects and shares information among heterogeneous
devices, legacy systems, open system protocols - such as BAC
net, Lon Works and Mod bus [11].
4.4. VYKON TECHNOLOGY:
4.5. WIZEM TECHNOLOGY:
COMPONENT
ZigBee socket
Zigbee switch
ZigBee sensor
ZigBee remote
control
It is an Enterprise Energy Management application that is
designed to help manage energy facilities. Web based browser
used to make it easy to get the information when you need it,
where you need it [9] .
ZigBee Room
agent
4.4.1. MODULES IN VES:
1) E2 PROFILER
Web based energy profiling tool designed to help you
manage energy.
2) COST PROFILER
Web based reporting package that allows detailed
comparison of energy costs [10].
WiMAX-ZigBee
Gateway
Energy
management server
4.4.2. EQUIPMENTS USED:
1) JAVA APPLICATION CONTROL ENGINE
The Java Application Control Engine (JACE) is directly
connected to the energy meters or via an integration bus such
as mod bus or LON [10] .
2) NIAGARA FRAMEWORK
Niagara is the gateway between devices and application. In
the application, the user is viewing control data on a webpage.
It supports operating systems such as Microsoft Windows NT,
or Linux [11] .
Niagara's underlying technology utilizes enterprise-level
software standards such as Java, TCP/IP, HTTP and XML to
allow access to your control system via any standard Web
browser.
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DESCRIPTION
A
novel
controllable
electrical socket replacing
traditional socket for power
supply of facility and
equipment
A
novel
controllable
electrical switch replacing
traditional switch for power
supply of facility and
equipment
Various types of sensors for
measuring the environmental
conditions
such
as
temperature,
luminance,
humidity, etc
Alternative control of the
ZigBee socket for staff and
porter
A ZigBee agent enabling
bidirectional communication
between sockets, switches,
sensors [13] and energy
management server.
A terminal providing bidirectional
conversion
between ZigBee and WiMAX packets
A computer system with user
interface
and
artificial
intelligence monitoring all
WiMAX-ZigBee gateways
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) - Volume4Issue4- April 2013
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all who have
contributed throughout the course of this work.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
ZiBee is suitable for short-range transmission within
buildings and Wi MAX is the best candidate for transmission
between buildings. This combination of ZigBee and Wi MAX
is referred as the Wi ZEM system [12] . From this, not only
green education is cultivated, students also experience the next
generation wireless technologies. The support by fuzzy
intelligence also helps monitoring energy consumption. In the
mean time, the message of energy management concept is
conveyed. Green education is receiving increasingly emphasis
in education, and hence the proposed Wi ZEM system serves
to receive the most impact for green campus [12].
4.5.1. FEATURES:
 Operates at 2.4 GHz frequency.
 Transfer Rate - 250Kbps.
 Range - 76m.
 Supports up to 65000 nodes in a single network.
 Low cost, Low power, Long life with smaller
batteries.
ZigBee is suitable for short-range transmission within
buildings and Wi MAX is the best candidate for transmission
between buildings. ZigBee sensors are used as a scout to
detect environmental conditions and controlling by fuzzy
intelligence [13].
V.
CONCLUSION
This report summarizes key features and capabilities of
different Energy Information Systems. Throughout this report,
we discussed various features and roles of EIS with
categorization frameworks and comparison of EIS products.
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
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pdf
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4.pdf
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http://www.ccontrols.com/basautomation/index.htm
www.vykon.com/cs/technology/why_vykon
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0407.pdf
www.vykon.com/galleries/VYKON-Library/V-202XPR.pdf
DM Han, JH Lim - Consumer Electronics, IEEE
Transactions on, 2010 - ieeexplore.ieee.org
http://freewimaxinfo.com/what-is-tcp-ip.html
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BIOGRAPHIES
BHEEMI REDDY SANDEEP REDDY is currently pursuing
IV/IV B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering
at K.L. University,Andhra Pradesh.
Area of interests are
Communications and Digital Electronics.
BADUGU SURESH is presently working as an Assistant
professor at K.L. University, Andhra Pradesh.He did his
B.Tech in ECE from prakasam engineering college, Kandukur
in 2008 and M.Tech in Telematics and signal processing
from NIT Rourkela in 2010.
We proposed different technologies with their network
architecture and equipments used for that Energy Information
System to enables a user to control the power, to reduce the
remnant standby power, and to manage the server for user
friendly information display.
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