Technical data

4 Electricity meters | 2CMC480022C0003
Applications in commercial buildings
Requirements for a deliberate strategy to manage and
control energy consumption are having an increasing
impact on commercial buildings such as shopping
centers, offices, hotels and airports.
Electricity meters in commercial buildings are usually acquired
by the property owner and read automatically via a facility or
building management system. In the same way as much
private property, e.g. housing associations and the like,
modern sub-metering can increase energy efficiency and save
money by more effective cost distribution. One significant
difference is that the
savings in commercial properties can
naturally be much greater.
MID-approval facilitates problem-free cost distribution
Strict approval criteria for the meters used in this application
do not generally apply. Meters that are MID approved have
the advantage of a certified and verified metering accuracy.
This is important if discussions on the fairness of the cost
distribution arise.
ABB electricity meters can easily help distribute consumption
costs between different tenants, e.g. stores and boutiques in
shopping malls, businesses in office blocks, or different
airlines and functions (baggage handling, for example) at
airports.
The fact that many commercial properties are not designed
from the beginning for sub-metering presents no problem.
ABB electricity meters fit neatly wherever they are needed,
but installation in DIN rail mounted is preferable as these are
usually prepared for DIN rail mounted devices.
Mandatory energy declarations require consumption to be
separated
According to EU directive 2002/91/EC, commercial properties
must now have an energy declaration that describes the
building’s energy performance. Its aim is to reduce the climate
effect and increase the efficient use of energy, i.e. benefits for
both society and the building owner.
Energy declarations require that the electrical consumption for
lighting, elevators, heating and ventilation, etc., be accounted
for separately. Data collected from individually-located meters
(sub-metering) are extremely valuable in this respect. As well
as being a legal requirement, it highlights ways to increase
efficiency by locating unnecessary consumption, e.g. heated
garage parking during summer months or ventilation in parts
of the building that are largely unoccupied.
Max demand also cuts energy consumption
Measuring the highest average power during a set time inter-
val (normally 15 min to one hour) results in the max demand
value. Measuring max demand helps dimension a building’s
electrical installations to its use. It also helps cut consumption
by more easily identifying time periods when consumption is
very high so that appropriate measures to reduce it can be
taken.
Modern sub-metering increases energy efficiency
and saves money by fair and accurate cost distribution.