As the new year begins, companies around the globe are setting energy resolutions to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and meet ambitious sustainability targets. One of the most effective yet often overlooked strategies is submetering—installing meters to monitor energy consumption at a granular level. By moving beyond a single, building-wide utility meter, companies can gain detailed insights that help lower their carbon footprint, meet industry guidelines, and improve operational efficiency.
Here’s how submetering can help your organization achieve its energy resolutions for 2026.
1. Identify Energy Waste and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
When energy usage is tracked at the system, department, or equipment level, companies can see exactly where energy is being wasted. This data allows for targeted interventions, such as:
- Shutting down idle equipment
- Optimizing HVAC schedules
- Replacing outdated lighting or machinery with more efficient alternatives
By addressing these inefficiencies, organizations can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while saving on energy costs.
2. Align with IEC and IEEE Guidelines
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provide global standards for energy monitoring and reporting. Submetering enables companies to:
- Track energy usage consistently across multiple sites or systems
- Ensure compliance with standardized measurement practices
- Produce accurate, verifiable data for sustainability reports
This level of compliance is becoming increasingly important for investors, regulators, and stakeholders who are monitoring corporate sustainability performance.
3. Improve Billing Accuracy and Efficiency
For companies with multiple tenants, buildings, or departments, submetering can simplify billing and reduce administrative headaches. By allocating energy costs based on actual usage rather than estimates, organizations can:
- Eliminate disputes over shared utility bills
- Identify unusually high energy users and investigate causes
- Reduce the time spent on manual calculations and reconciliations
Accurate billing also encourages responsible energy usage among departments, further driving efficiency and cost savings.
4. Set Data-Driven Energy Reduction Goals
Submetering provides actionable insights that allow organizations to set realistic, measurable energy targets. For example:
- Benchmark energy usage by system or building
- Identify peak consumption periods and implement load-shifting strategies
- Track progress on carbon reduction initiatives over time
By turning energy data into clear performance metrics, companies can ensure that their sustainability resolutions are not just aspirational—but achievable.
5. Support Long-Term Operational and Sustainability Planning
Beyond immediate energy savings, submetering lays the foundation for strategic decision-making. Organizations can:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of retrofits and energy projects
- Make informed decisions about future upgrades or expansions
- Incorporate energy efficiency into broader ESG strategies
With reliable, detailed energy data, companies can continuously improve operational efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
Starting Your 2026 Energy Resolution
The new year is the perfect time to take control of energy usage and sustainability goals. By implementing submetering, companies gain clarity, accuracy, and actionable insights to reduce their carbon footprint, comply with industry standards, streamline billing, and drive long-term efficiency.
The path to a more sustainable, cost-efficient operation begins with data you can trust and actions you can measure—and 2026 is the ideal year to make it happen.
