In today's world, where sustainability and energy efficiency are paramount, airports are seeking innovative ways to reduce their energy consumption. One powerful method that has emerged in this quest is the use of dashboards, which provide visual interfaces that portray real-time data and insights, enabling users to effectively monitor, manage and make the most of their energy usage.
What is an energy dashboard?
Energy dashboards are digital platforms that aggregate data from various sources, such as smart meters, sensors and energy management systems. They present this data in an easily understandable format, often through graphs, charts and other visual aids. By offering a comprehensive view of energy consumption patterns, these dashboards help users identify inefficiencies and make informed decisions to reduce energy use.
What are the benefits of energy dashboards?
- Real-time monitoring: Dashboards provide up-to-the-minute information on energy usage, allowing airport staff to track consumption as it happens. This real-time visibility is crucial for identifying spikes in usage, finding potential maintenance issues and promptly addressing them.
- Data-driven decisions: With detailed insights into energy consumption, users can make data-driven decisions to optimize their energy use. For example, they can identify which equipment or processes are consuming the most energy and take steps to improve their efficiency.
- Cost savings: By pinpointing areas of high energy consumption and implementing targeted measures to reduce it, businesses can achieve significant cost savings. Energy dashboards can highlight opportunities for cost-effective energy-saving initiatives.
- Sustainability goals: For organizations committed to sustainability, energy dashboards are invaluable. They provide the data needed to track progress toward energy reduction goals and demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility.
- Predictive maintenance: Advanced energy dashboards can also predict when equipment is likely to fail or require maintenance, based on energy usage patterns. This proactive approach helps prevent downtime and extends the lifespan of equipment.
What are the steps to implement an energy dashboard?
- Assess your needs: Determine what data you need to monitor and what goals you aim to achieve with your energy dashboard. This will guide the selection of the right tools and features.
- Choose the right platform: Various energy dashboard platforms are available, each with different capabilities. Choose one that aligns with your airport’s specific needs and integrates well with your systems.
- Integrate data sources: Getting the most out of your airport’s dashboard requires confirming it can pull data from all relevant sources, such as smart meters; heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems; and lighting controls. Real-time integration is key to a comprehensive view of your energy usage.
- Customize your dashboard: Tailor your dashboard to display the most relevant information for your needs. This might include setting up alerts for unusual energy spikes or creating specific reports for different stakeholders. Microsoft Power BI is one example of a platform that can display the data and analyze the information, provide insights and improve decision-making.
- Train your team: Everyone who will use the dashboard should understand how to interpret the data and act based on the insights provided. Training is essential for maximizing the benefits of your energy dashboard.
If you’re ready to make the most of your airport’s energy usage, energy dashboards are a powerful tool. By providing real-time data and actionable insights, dashboards empower your staff to make informed decisions that lead to significant energy and cost savings. When you're looking to reduce your airport’s operational costs and are committed to sustainability, implementing an energy dashboard can help you achieve your energy-efficiency goals.
Ivan Meneses, Hanson’s energy lead, can be reached at imeneses@hanson-inc.com.