Roundtable: Performance Monitoring
Onset recently organized a roundtable to discuss the current role of data loggers in energy and system commissioning applications. Roundtable participants included: Adam Knickelbein, Summit Blue Consulting, and Gray on our innovative green technologies, Energy + Stephen Pfeiffer.
How do data loggers fit into your overall performance monitoring strategy?
Don: The data loggers allow us to do full baseline testing on the equipment before we make any upgrades, changes or modifications. We use the Utility Customer Direct Rebate (CDR) energy saving program to reduce electricity usage at our customers' facilities and keep money in our pockets. With data loggers, we get very high quality data.
Adam: We do a lot of work evaluating gas and electric companies that implement energy efficiency programs. An important part of doing that is measuring their energy savings from various projects. For example, when we monitor lighting operations, we often use UX90-002M, UX90-005M, UX90-006M light on/off data loggers. When we measure motors running HOBO® U9-004 (new models UX90-004, UX90-004M) motor on/off data logger we use 4 channel logger with current sensor to monitor energy usage and estimate energy savings increase need to be accurate and reliable data, because we need to verify whether the energy savings really exist.
Stephen: Data loggers will play an important role in my work. I use the logger man primarily for system debugging to effectively measure how existing HVAC systems and other building systems are working. I also use these devices to verify the correct operation of the retrofit system.
What particular challenges did you face with data collection?
Adam: We have many different monitoring projects and need to go to many different websites to download data at the same time. I know there are many web-based loggers that allow you to get real-time data, but right now, we only use standalone loggers that don't have internet access.
Don: One of the main challenges we faced in the past was sending a tech site to collect data. We have historically collected large numbers of samples. Collect data with web-based systems, such as HOBO U30 RX3000, U30-GSM-000-05-S100, U30-GSM-000-10-S100, U30-GSM-VIA-05-S100, U30-GSM-VIA-10 -S100 (RX3003-00-01), can save us time and money. It allows us to access data at any time without having to go out.
Steph: Sometimes I find it hard to put loggers on old systems. Another challenge I faced was bringing the laptop into the field to activate the Recorder.
What do you do with the data?
Adam: We usually export statistics software. As an example, if we measure lighting we would normally look at a snapshot of the population's retail store or office building energy use and other building usage, then we can get the data based on the average.
Don: My data file is exported to Excel. Our customers want to see what's going on with their data in a graphical interface. When I prepare a report, I convert the data into graphs showing everything that happened throughout the project's lifecycle.
Stephen: I always export data to Excel because it helps me understand more clearly how the system is working and helps me identify problems easily.
Your log monitoring project usually needs trending, real-time data, or both?
Don: We need two. I need real data for many of our projects. In general, however, trend data is more important to us.
Adam: We look at the main trend of the log.
Stephen: I just need to look at the trend data.
What are the important product features you are looking for in Data Loggers?
Stephen: The important feature for me is memory because I need to record a lot of data using short time sampling rates. I'm also looking for a logger that can withstand harsh environmental conditions. They need to be able to jump.
Don: For us, it's the ease of use. The more complex the test equipment, the longer I have to train our technology to go out and collect data. Data loggers have historically created the scientific genre, and I think everyday people look for products that are easy to use for monitoring projects.
Adam: The cost is a big one as well as the ease of use.
