Table of Contents
Article contributed to Cannabis Tech by Jim Harris @ SafetyNet America
In our previous article, we highlighted the importance of identifying where energy consumption occurs in cannabis cultivation and how new technology can help reduce energy costs for cultivators. Indoor cannabis cultivation, in particular, requires significant energy for systems such as horticultural lighting, dehumidification, ventilation, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), all power-intensive.
To effectively reduce these energy costs, it is essential for growers to make informed decisions about their energy usage and take advantage of available resources, such as advanced energy monitoring technology, Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) compliance, and energy tax credits. While navigating these options may be challenging, when properly implemented, they can significantly improve both operational efficiency and financial performance for cannabis cultivators.
By incorporating the right tools and practices, cultivators can optimize their energy use and enhance their bottom line, reducing overall costs while meeting environmental and regulatory standards.
Why Manage Energy
SafetyNet views energy management as the steps required to improve a facility’s energy performance. Energy management means systematic attention to energy to continually improve energy performance and maintain any improvements as the facility needs change.
As the overhead costs with cannabis facilities continue to rise, increasing energy efficiency without negatively impacting the harvest should be a critical focus. Reducing energy usage makes perfect business sense because it reduces costs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and improves the company image. It also reduces exposure to volatile energy prices and helps with the security of the energy supply by reducing dependence on imported energy sources.
As the cannabis industry continues to expand, the energy industry is preparing for the intense demands of cannabis cultivation. To maximize profits and minimize impact on the environment and the energy grid, growers need to prepare and be proactive in their efforts. While indoor cultivators are the most energy-intensive, all grow operations that consume large amounts of electricity or natural gas should be mindful of understanding how they use energy and what is available to aid with reducing energy consumption.
Making The Invisible Visible
Energy is invisible in its use, so it is easy to waste. Attaining high energy savings and sustaining them needs a combined approach – hardware, software, and service working in harmony. To identify where the most significant energy usages are, you need to know how much energy each process or system uses. In an ideal world you will have energy sub-meters fitted to all large energy consumption devices and can then simply use these meters to quantify the consumption of each use, however in reality, very few will be sub-metered. In that case, you need a way of estimating their consumption.
Say hello to SafetyNet’s “Eniscope Energy Management System”. Our Eniscope solution is the culmination of more than a decade of constant research and development where it provides everything necessary to “make the invisible visible” so visibility can deliver performance and accountability. It is a multi-channel energy meter and sensing system, designed to first monitor incoming energy to a facility, then gather, summarize, store, and transmit energy-related information to Web-based servers for presentation and analysis. It is an end-to-end, real-time energy management platform, with hardware, software, and IoT capabilities all rolled into one compact, easy-to-install product that helps to expose energy-abusing equipment and eliminate waste.
By implementing our Eniscope energy management solution along with sensors to monitor major energy-consuming devices throughout your facility, this technology can quickly identify the major areas of energy consumption. Once identified, steps can be taken to adjust or modify these culprits to reduce energy usage.
A SMARRT Approach To Energy Savings
Our SMARRT approach to energy management is a unique energy management concept that brings so much more value to the Eniscope solution. This innovative energy-saving solution unites every component under one definitive quality of service. Utilizing this concept, we bring the highest quality of service in energy monitoring and management.
Survey – Fast analysis on-site using our proprietary mobile app
Monitor – Precise energy use and waste monitoring using Eniscope
Analyze – Real-time analysis of trends in the cloud with our software platform
Reduce – Detection of savings opportunities possible with retrofit technologies
Review – Nodal analysis and comprehensive reporting to drive decision-making
Target – Improve performance by setting goals and verifying success
The SMARRT concept was created with ISO 50001 at its helm. It adheres to the regulations that all businesses should follow in managing their energy use and provides a benchmark that they should reach for energy savings. Our SMARRT approach summarizes these principles into a straightforward acronym that clients and partners can follow. The global implementation of the SMARRT formula is at the heart of the service we provide.
Our Smart Suite of Products
Eniscope is transforming the state of energy monitoring by offering wireless sensors and on/off control as part of its wider suite of supporting products. Stand-alone wireless IoT sensors serve energy outputs including water, occupancy, gas, and temperature, to ensure all the data you receive is placed perfectly in context for interpretation.
These products act as a capable extension to the primary Eniscope monitoring device, delivering the same granularity of energy monitoring at a device level. Minute-by-minute data flow influences pinpoint decisions for energy management including the ability to turn devices on and off according to a schedule or logic controls.
Predictive Maintenance
Most maintenance is reactive or pre-scheduled. With asset-level monitoring utilizing IoT technologies, our system can tell you when an asset is about to break down and send alarms against key asset failures, so you know instantly there’s a problem.
With our Energy Management System providing data in real-time, and by using IoT devices, customers can get granular visibility of their equipment previously only available in very high-end equipment. Our system’s ability to monitor IoT devices that can be retrofitted to virtually any piece of equipment that uses electricity gives organizations the ability to detect issues and predict failures before they occur.
With the data our system provides, and the intuitive platform to analyze it, your maintenance schedule no longer has to be reactive or pre-planned. Resources can be allocated based on the machines that need attention.
Reporting and Analytics
When it comes to site monitoring and targeting, our Eniscope Energy Management Solution is in a league of its own. Suddenly all of your energy information is available in one location, disaggregated and reinterpreted into a language you can understand, be It kW’s, carbon, or cost.
Information is power, and Eniscope puts the power back in your control. Eniscope provides second-by-second data for your whole building portfolio, however large or widespread, all accessible from a cloud software platform.
Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) Compliance
Terms like “sustainability” and “corporate responsibility” pertain to an organization’s efficient use of natural resources and its active reduction of harm to the natural environment and to communities. It generally encompasses an organization “doing the right thing”, a concept that includes sustainability but also community involvement, rather than an exclusive focus on profit.
ESG is the acronym created to describe the environmental, social, and governance impacts of an entity. Over the last couple of years, ESG initiatives have taken on a whole new meaning for companies and have quickly become the new standard of excellence for businesses.
In a number of jurisdictions throughout the United States, reporting ESG elements is either mandatory or under active consideration. The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering new rules that would require more detailed disclosure of climate-related risks and greenhouse gas emissions. Additional SEC regulations on other facets of ESG have also been proposed or are pending.
The ESG consulting services that are available as part of our total energy management solution are designed to help you easily understand how ESG connects to and builds upon our Eniscope Energy Management System.
Energy Tax Credits
With so much effort being put into energy management and energy savings, businesses need to know that there are ways to recoup some of the costs associated with becoming greener. When a company makes improvements to systems or processes, tax credits and incentives are available for businesses.
As part of our overall goal to help companies become more energy efficient, we want to assist you in the recovery of costs associated with these efforts. We help businesses to overcome the challenges of how and what to do to offset investment costs. It is one of the most sought-after services that has been helping companies identify and leverage the largest federal and state incentives available including ERC, R&D Tax Credits, and 179D.
Knowledge is power!
When you know when and how you are consuming energy using real-time data management software tools, it makes it easier to know where changes are needed. Tracking energy data in real-time is critical for success when metering, lighting, HVAC, water, and environmental controls are included.
With the number of opportunities that exist for cultivators to manage electric, natural gas, and water consumption, there are numerous ways to improve profits through strategic energy planning and procurement, real-time data, automation and controls, and advanced technology solutions.
There is no true “one-size-fits-all solution”, due to geographical and regulatory differences, but many strategies and technology solutions are available to successfully manage energy, lower costs, improve profits, and reduce the environmental impacts of cannabis cultivation. For more information on Safety Net’s Energy Management solutions and the products we offer, visit us at SafetyNetnergyMgt.com or send us an email at info@safetynetamerica.com.
