4 Energy Management Trends to Watch in 2016

As populations grow and new technologies emerge, energy needs rise with every passing year. Fortunately, each year also brings exciting innovations to the ways we store, manage and allocate that energy. From electric cars to smart meters to advanced systems for controlling energy-hogging industrial equipment, forward-thinking companies are constantly creating more sustainable, cost-effective ways to consume.

2016 will be no exception. Tech entrepreneurs, researchers and venture capitalists are already pouring time and resources into the energy technologies that will shape the industrial landscape of the future. Here are four of the most important energy management trends and innovations you’ll want to keep an eye on in the new year.

Low Time-Intensity

As critical as energy management is, it’s still not a major focus for most entrepreneurs, administrators and executives – nor will it be. Energy management is inherently complex and difficult to learn, and even as more industries embrace energy-saving technologies, few personnel will devote significant time to understanding them. The time required to understand and implement energy management products will therefore be low.

The same holds true among consumers, who haven’t embraced products that save money but cost time. Google’s Power Meter is a perfect example. The product required residential users to spend significant time monitoring and adjusting their energy usage to reap the benefits, and it flopped. Ultimately, commercial and residential customers alike will continue to favor technologies that cut energy costs on autopilot – even if it means sacrificing some savings for time.

Clear Value

Similarly, energy saving products will, by necessity, appeal to a variety of customers and stakeholders. Executives of finance, sustainability, facilities and a host of other specialties all need to draw value from the same enterprise solutions. The tools energy management specialists use to precisely control their companies’ power use will be the same tools CFOs and CSOs use to generate reports and create policies.

The Device Mesh

The “device mesh” is the ever-expanding set of hardware people can use to access software and data. The mesh includes stationary computers, laptops, mobile devices and wearables. It also includes the sensors that make up the internet of things – the network of physical devices connected in the cloud. As the mesh grows, it’s a good bet device-to-device connection will, as well. This trend could lower the energy costs of accessing and leveraging data, but the growing number of connected devices could cause a rise in per-person expenditure.

Smart Homes

In keeping with consumers’ desires for automated energy savings, the use of smart home devices will likely continue to climb. These include major energy savers such as smart thermostats and smart lights – sensor-equipped devices that only draw power when necessary. Will consumers enjoy lower energy bills, or will they offset those savings with other advanced appliances? What about industry – will companies widen their profit margins or use their newfound efficiency to power more and better equipment? Only time will tell!

To learn more about how Constellation can help you achieve your energy management goals in 2016 and beyond, request a quote today.