Interval Data - Energy Data that's Packed with Information
Interval energy data contains a tremendous amount of information about a building's energy usage, and Energy Lens makes that information easy to access (download a free trial). But what exactly is interval energy data, how do you get it, and why should you be interested?
Interval energy data is a fine-grained record of energy consumption, with readings made at regular intervals throughout the day, every day.
Interval energy data is collected by an interval meter, which, at the end of every interval period, records how much energy was used in the previous interval period.
Such data is often referred to as "interval data", "interval meter data", "demand interval data", "kW interval data", "electricity interval data" (electricity interval meters are particularly common), and other such variations. Common forms of interval data include 15-minute data and half-hourly data.
The picture below shows part of an Excel chart created by Energy Lens from 15-minute interval data. The fine-grained detail of the data is clear to see.
- Why should we be interested?
- Will it be available?
- Where can a business get it from?
- What format does it come in?
- How often should a business monitor it?
- Why do we need Energy Lens to benefit?
Why should we be interested in interval energy data?
If you're an energy user (a business or other organization), your interval data is invaluable for the energy management that can help you to cut your energy bills.
If you're an energy consultant, you're probably analyzing interval data already: such analysis can reveal a tremendous amount of information about the ways in which your clients use energy.
Will interval energy data be available?
Most business that use a fair amount of electricity will have an interval electricity meter from their electricity supplier*. Most electricity suppliers make interval electricity data readily available to customers that request it.
Businesses that have installed their own energy metering equipment (smart metering) will typically have instant access to their interval meter data through that equipment.
It's unusual for energy suppliers to fit interval gas metering. However, some businesses do fit their own interval gas metering equipment for energy management purposes (good metering is a prerequisite for any modern energy management system). You can use Energy Lens with interval gas data just as you would use it with interval electricity data.
* In the UK, energy suppliers have to provide a large proportion of their non-domestic customers with half-hourly metering - the rules behind this are explained in the page on half-hourly data. Many other countries have similar such rules. However, if you simply want to find out whether or not you have interval metering, asking your supplier is the most straightforward approach.
Where can a business get their interval data from?
If the business has a supplier-fitted interval electricity meter (e.g. a half-hourly electricity meter), interval electricity data will probably be freely or cheaply available from the electricity supplier. Contact details will be available on the electricity bill. An authorized person can usually request that the supplier email them data (e.g. for the last month or the last year). Some suppliers also have a website from which customers can download their recent interval energy data.
If the business has fitted smart metering, the interval data should be readily available through that system.
What format does interval meter data come in?
Interval meter data (whether 10-minute, 15-minute, 20-minute, 30-minute or 60-minute) almost invariably comes in either:
- an Excel spreadsheet file; or
- a CSV file (comma separated values), which can be opened directly in Excel.
Energy Lens can work directly with either of these formats (or any other format that can be opened in Excel).
How often should a business monitor their interval data?
Energy Lens will allow a business to look at interval data as often as they like, but it's typically worthwhile to look at fresh data about once a month. So, once-a-month the business would:
- Obtain the interval data for the previous month.
- Study the data to discover any energy wastage that may have occurred, and to compare the last month's energy performance with that of previous months.
- Take steps to prevent further wastage, and to further improve energy performance.
It may be beneficial to perform a similar routine more frequently, maybe once a week.
Why do we need Energy Lens to benefit?
Because Energy Lens makes it much simpler, and much less time-consuming to extract value from interval energy data.
Manually analyzing interval data takes time, patience, and advanced spreadsheet skills. Energy Lens makes it effortless to create charts and tables from interval data, enabling you to focus on the interpretation instead of the grunt work.
Download the free trial now to see just how easy it is to use Energy Lens.
What next?
- See how businesses with interval metering can use Energy Lens to cut energy bills.
- See how energy consultants can use Energy Lens to analyze interval data faster.
- Read about the key features of Energy Lens.
- Download the free trial of Energy Lens.
- Buy Energy Lens securely online, by phone, by fax, or by purchase order.