The objective of this project is to conduct a real-world demonstration of an advanced sub-metering technology that improves access and usage of data for facility energy and water management. Department of Defense (DoD) energy managers need access to building level energy and water data in order to allocate costs, monitor flows, determine baselines & benchmarks, and prioritize capital investments that improve performance over time. Currently, most of the Services have a utility Meter Data Management System (MDMS) in place that collects data from utility revenue meters installed at a building’s service entrance or point of common coupling (PCC). In this growing marketspace, an abundance of advanced metering options are becoming available that go beyond the capabilities of typical utility revenue meters. For example, building level submetering, or the metering of additional branches beyond the service entrance or PCC, can increase visibility into demand and consumption of individual loads, ensure power and water quality compliance, and improve fault/leak detection, diagnostics and optimization strategies.

The Siemens Embedded Micro Metering Module (SEM3) integrates directly into Siemens panelboards, saving space and installation time and cost, or retrofit into existing electrical equipment. The SEM3 can integrate with existing monitoring, automation, and billing systems or can operate as a standalone system with real time data available via built-in webpages. One controller can measure current, voltage, demand, consumption and several other parameters for up to 45 poles. The controller has two native pulse inputs that can be used to monitor other utilities such as gas or water, or it can master a Siemens S7 1200 programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to accept up to 44 digital inputs. The SEM3 demonstrations will attempt to show improved access and usability of facility energy and water data for DoD facility managers, engineers, and technicians. Demonstrations will be considered successful if the quality, accessibility, degree of usability and user satisfaction increase relative to existing facility energy and water meter data.

Sub-metering solutions enhance existing Building Automation Systems (BAS), advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), or MDMS by improving the quality, reliability, accessibility and quantity of building level energy data. This data can result in significant energy-reduction by guiding management strategies and enabling more informed operational and investment decision-making. Additionally, sub-metered data can improve energy benchmarking, demand management, sub-billing and cost allocation, system diagnostics and trending, and ability to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.