The number one misconception about building analytics software is that it will solve problems on its own.
Yes… it’s an extremely powerful tool for building owners.
Yes… it can revolutionize how buildings are managed and operated.
No… it’s not capable of producing results on its own.
With the exception of automated supervisory controls, energy management information systems (EMIS) are human-in-the-loop tools. They help explore our data and find needles in the haystack, but they require regular use by a well-resourced team to fully convert data to information to insights to action to verified results.
I think the misconception is, unfortunately, caused by sales hype. Marketers are overselling their product or service with promises like “20% ENERGY SAVINGS”. Sorry marketers, but we need an asterisk:
*Analytics can help you achieve X% energy savings if you use the software and take action
Effective EMIS use requires integrating ongoing activities into the organization’s everyday operating procedures. I call this the “path to action”. The creation of operational processes requires thinking through how the team will:
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