Effective energy management goes beyond formulas—it’s about understanding when and how to take action to achieve true energy savings. This session at AHREXPO 2025 | BAS 101 – Energy Management discusses the basic principles, like understanding utility bills, to more advanced strategies, such as load management and the role of building automation systems (BAS).
Key Takeaways from the Session:
Understanding Energy Usage:
- The session emphasized the importance of accurately measuring and understanding a building’s energy consumption across different utilities (electricity, gas, water/sewer). To understand energy use, start by analyzing utility bills and submetering.
- Stephanie highlighted the need to consider different billing structures and units of measurement (kilowatt-hours, BTUs).
- The point was made that even a simple analysis, like reviewing utility bills in a spreadsheet, can reveal significant energy waste. e.g., a $2M heat recovery chiller sitting idle for a year.
- Focus on matching capacity to demand, and don’t overlook basic fixes (scheduling, setpoints, maintenance).
“I have never done an energy audit where I haven’t found scheduling opportunities, that’s huge.” – Stephanie
Life Cycle Cost Analysis:
- The discussion stressed the importance of considering the equipment’s life cycle cost rather than just the initial purchase price.
- An example was provided comparing the life cycle costs of electric baseboard heating vs. gas furnaces and heat pumps. Someone looks at the upfront cost of the installation and says, “Oh, I’m definitely going to put in the baseboard,” but they don’t really think of the life cycle cost, which is the most important part.
Energy Efficiency Strategies:
- The fundamental principle of energy efficiency was defined as: “turning things off when you don’t need them and giving the right amount to what is like what the demand needs match the capacity with the demand.”
- Strategies like scheduling, setback control, occupancy sensors, and demand control ventilation were discussed.
- The importance of validating schedules with trend data was highlighted.
“Override traps are everywhere. One hospital reduced alarms from 200/day to 20 by deleting duplicates and customizing thresholds.” Stepha
Peak Demand Management:
- The impact of peak demand charges on utility bills was explained.
- Strategies for demand response (reacting to utility signals) and load management (proactive control strategies) were presented.
- The potential pitfalls of automatic load shedding were discussed, emphasizing the need for careful planning and engineering input.
“Peak demand charges can spike bills by 30–40%. One client saved $1M/year just by shifting electric heating to gas during peak hours. The trick? Pre-heat buildings before occupancy to avoid morning surges.” -Scott
Action Plan
- Baseline energy use (track bills, submeter key systems).
- Attack peak demand (load shifting, capping equipment).
- Fix scheduling (audit trends, not just setpoints).
- Compare lifecycle costs—not just upfront prices.
- Upgrade alarms & analytics to sustain savings
Efficiency = Comfort + Right-Sizing
“The most efficient buildings are the most comfortable because they use the right energy at the right time.” Stephanie
Watch full session here
Stephanie Poole, Principal, SES Consulting
Stephanie is a professional engineer with extensive experience in energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, including audits, implementations, commissioning, project management, and strategic planning. A former teacher, she now applies her expertise to develop and deliver energy and decarbonization courses for organizations such as the Canadian Institute for Energy Efficiency (CIET). She is also a contributing editor for AutomatedBuildings.com and sits on the Building Decarbonization Alliance (BDA) expert advisory panel.
Scott Cochrane, President & CEO, Cochrane Supply
Scott Cochrane is President and CEO of Cochrane Supply & Engineering, a leading Smart Building Controls Supplier with locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas, as well as an affiliate in Ontario called Canada Controls. Scott earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with minors in Marketing and Finance from Eastern Michigan University and holds an additional minor in HVAC Technologies from Macomb Community College. In 2000, he took over the business from his father, Donald Cochrane, Sr., who founded the company in 1967. Scott is an IBcon Digital Impact Award Winner for going above and beyond to positively impact the smart building industry, as well as a winner of the ControlTrends Impact Person of the Year Award and Distributor Executive of the Year Award for his contributions to the industry.
