Energy use in commercial buildings is complex, and expensive. Without proper visibility into how, when, and where energy is being consumed, businesses risk wasting thousands of pounds each year.
For different departments and personnel within a business such as facilities managers, sustainability leads, and finance teams, effective energy monitoring is a powerful tool that can lead to reduced costs, cuts in carbon, and improvements in operational efficiency.
What does monitoring really involve, and why is it particularly important in commercial settings? In this blog post we’ll address these key questions…
What Is a Commercial Building?
First let’s start with ‘What is a Commercial Building?’. It’s any structure that is used for business purposes rather than residential living. This can include:
-
Offices
-
Retail stores and shopping centres
-
Hotels and hospitality venues
-
Warehouses and logistics facilities
-
Schools, universities, and healthcare centres
Tending to be larger, more complex, and more energy-intensive than domestic buildings, commercial properties often have multiple zones, varied occupancy, and extended hours of use. Heating, lighting, ventilation, and equipment all add up. Without a clear view of energy consumption across the property, inefficiencies can easily creep in unnoticed.
Why Visibility Matters
If you can’t see it, you can’t manage it. Many businesses are still relying on monthly utility bills or outdated meter readings to track energy use. This only provides businesses with a historical view of their energy consumption – what they have already used. At this point there is nothing that can be done to address what has gone before. Whereas with real-time energy monitoring, commercial teams will have the data and insights that will enable them to:
-
See unusual usage spikes or out-of-hours usage
-
Understand patterns of consumption
-
Identify opportunities to cut waste
-
Benchmark performance across multiple sites
With the right system in place, energy becomes something you can manage proactively, not reactively.
What Is Energy Monitoring?
Energy monitoring allows businesses to work with live data and is the process of collecting, analysing, and visualising energy usage data across a building or portfolio.
So what would a typical energy monitoring system look like? Typically, it would include:
-
Smart meters or sub-meters to capture granular data
-
A digital dashboard or platform to visualise usage
-
Alerts or reports to highlight anomalies or trends
Monitoring allows you to pinpoint exactly where energy is going, understand what’s normal, and take quick corrective action when something changes. It’s not about watching a screen 24/7, no one has time for that, it’s about having the right insights at your fingertips when you need them.
Commercial Buildings Have Unique Energy Challenges
Unlike smaller or single-use sites, commercial properties often have:
-
Large footprints with multiple usage zones
-
Complex equipment setups (eg HVAC, refrigeration, IT)
-
Variable occupancy (especially in retail or hospitality)
-
Multi-site estates with inconsistent data collection
Energy usage can fluctuate wildly depending on time of day, weather, or tenant behaviour. Without monitoring in place, it’s hard to tell what’s driving those changes.
What to Look for in a Monitoring Solution
Not all systems are created equal. A good energy monitoring solution for commercial buildings should offer:
-
Real-time visibility, not just historic data
-
Easy-to-read dashboards for both technical and non-technical teams
-
Alerts to flag anomalies or inefficiencies
-
The ability to compare buildings, zones, or time periods
-
Integration with existing BMS or energy management systems
The best systems make it easy to act, not just analyse. And that’s where the true power of your data can be realised.
The Benefits Speak for Themselves
Investing in energy monitoring will bring your business closer to the data behind your energy management, leading to:
-
Immediate savings by reducing unnecessary usage
-
Lower carbon emissions to support net zero targets
-
Better performance reporting for ESG and compliance
-
Stronger justification for future energy upgrades
-
Reduced maintenance costs by catching issues early
For many commercial businesses, energy monitoring pays for itself in a matter of months and continues to deliver value for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Energy monitoring is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a foundational part of running a cost-effective, sustainable commercial building. With the right tools in place, businesses gain control, clarity, and confidence in ensuring their energy usage is optimised and efficiencies are achieved.
Take a look at EMMA AI and the solutions it provides to businesses. And to see how Optimal Monitoring could bring value to your business arrange a demo.
