Managing energy consumption is an important issue facing many industrial companies. While some companies have gradually changed the past, many are faced with rising energy demand costs and realizing that the status quo is no longer the standard way of doing business.
Concerned about monitoring the energy usage of their own equipment, MCD, Inc., a Madison, Wisconsin-based professional print-finishing company teamed up with Inform Ecodesign, LLC, a consulting firm in Madison, to monitor a printing plant's electricity usage and help manage its energy needs peak.
The founder, Dr. Kevin Xiao, informed about ecological design and project management. "Because our client is a commercial specialty print finisher, they have specific equipment that attracts high levels of capacity (McDonald's utility bills) and demand rates and they are very mindful of rising costs associated with energy demand charges. They also A holistic view of the environment impacts their business," explained.
Companies such as Inform Ecodesign leverage their expertise to help their clients track and understand building energy use, while providing informative tools that help save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make better energy decisions.
Specifically, MCDs need real-time access to energy data to better understand how to manage their electrical energy usage. Utility companies charge commercial buildings for the power they use (peak power draw), as well as the power they actually consume. Also, the time of day affects rate issues.
To monitor McDonald's energy usage, a web-based HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) wireless remote monitoring system manufactured by Onset Corporation in Massachusetts was selected. The energy monitoring system consists of a Wi-Fi-based data logging unit and pulse input adapter pulse input S-UCC-M001, S-UCC-M006, S-UCD-M001, S-UCD-M006, to monitor the power consumption of the factory. The HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) uses McDonald's existing Wi-Fi network and Pulse design to connect to local utilities.
The rugged housing of HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) energy monitoring system makes it suitable for harsh industrial environments and the system’s plug-and-play architecture ensures quick and easy setup. At any time, the MCD manager can view real-time data through HOBOlink™, the network software platform designed for the HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) system.
A web-based energy monitoring system was chosen, in particular, due to its low cost and convenience. Outburst "We propose solutions based on cost and functionality, which in turn allows MCD to leverage existing buy-in utility pulses," explains.
Prior to choosing the HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) system, MCD used a custom-built computer monitoring system that allowed MDC to view 30 days' worth of utility bill period data. However, the previous system did not allow remote access to company data and could not view their energy draw in real time, effectively monitoring consumption.
With the HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) energy monitoring system, MCD managers can access data from the onset HOBOlink website and receive alerts when limits are tripped. "With HOBOlink, my customers can view data anytime, anywhere with access to the Internet," Xiao explained. "Being able to remotely view data allows us to see how much energy a facility is consuming. When a company is charged with demand rates, the importance of knowing their energy profile in real time goes without saying to reduce usage and save money."
HOBO U30-WIFI/RX3000 (RX3002-00-01) energy monitoring solution is a cost-effective solution. "The payback on this system is just a few years or less. It's hard to sell my client a system with a 10-year payback," he explained.
