Remote energy management benefits in retail building portfolios
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to investigate the effects of a remote energy management service to the energy consumption of retail buildings. The study focuses on analysing the changes in energy consumption after the implementation of a facility service concept where building processes are optimized with a remote energy management system. The paper seeks to demonstrate that remotely operated building management practices, which allow high competence service for all facilities, have a positive impact, beyond traditional facility services, on energy and environmental performance of buildings.
Design/methodology/approach
The research analyses the metered energy consumption of two retail building portfolios comprising altogether 44 properties. Additionally, secondary data are collected from archive reviews, observation and interviews.
Findings
The research shows that remote energy management service reduced the total energy consumption during the two-year service period by 12 and 6 per cent depending on the portfolio. Electricity consumption was found to decrease by 7 per cent and heating energy by 26 per cent on the average in the first portfolio, and 7 and 4 per cent in the second one, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
Variation between buildings was found to be relatively high as the individual characteristics and history of the different buildings inevitably affect the achieved results.
Practical implications
The study indicates that remote energy management offers an effective means to reduce the energy consumption and costs, and ultimately climate impacts derived from buildings.
Originality/value
The study adds to the knowledge of facilities management in context to energy management and environmental performance of buildings.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) and ISS Palvelut Oy for inspiring and funding the research.
Citation
Määttänen, E., Kyrö, R., Aaltonen, A., Sarasoja, A.-L. and Junnila, S. (2014), "Remote energy management benefits in retail building portfolios", Journal of Facilities Management, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 56-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-09-2012-0043
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited