OverView: Real-Time Energy Monitoring (RTEM) in Building Automation Systems (BAS) uses sensors, smart meters, and IoT devices to continuously track a building’s energy use (electricity, gas, water) and present it live, enabling immediate identification of waste, automated adjustments (like HVAC/lighting), predictive maintenance, and data-driven optimization for significant cost savings and sustainability in smart buildings. 

Key Components & How it Works:

  • Sensors & Smart Meters: Devices collect granular data on energy consumption for different systems (lighting, HVAC, equipment).
  • IoT & Connectivity: Data flows seamlessly via Ethernet or device-to-device (D2D) protocols to a central platform.
  • Building Management System (BMS)/EMS: Software analyzes the real-time data, providing dashboards, analytics, and automation rules. 

Benefits & Functions:

  • Identify Waste: Pinpoints inefficiencies, anomalies, and equipment running unnecessarily.
  • Automated Control: Adjusts lighting, temperature, and ventilation based on occupancy, weather, or peak demand.
  • Predictive Insights: Forecasts energy needs, detects potential failures (predictive maintenance), and optimizes usage patterns.
  • Sustainability: Reduces carbon footprint and supports integration with renewables.
  • Cost Reduction: Lowers utility bills by minimizing peak demand and waste. 

In a Smart Building:

RTEM transforms a traditional, static BMS into an intelligent, adaptive system that learns occupant behavior and reacts in real-time, moving beyond simple scheduling to proactive energy management, making buildings more efficient, comfortable, and sustainable.