Submeters feed timescale measurements from control devices or sensors into Building Automation Systems, enabling enhanced management and performance monitoring of building components such as HVAC equipment, lighting, and renewable energy systems. The availability of submetering data provided at more discrete levels can be used by automation systems as part of fault detection and continuous commissioning, thereby identifying problems with installed equipment before occupants observe adverse effects in utility bills. Additionally, submetering data may identify abnormal energy and water consumption as a result of system faults that may not be recognizable in the entire building's utility usage data.
Integration with an Energy Management System: Integrating a submeter with a data acquisition system (DAS), either stand-alone or through an existing building automation system, is an integral part of a submetering program. As long as the vendor-supplied submeter software program uses ANSI standardized "open protocol" methods, the data generated by the submeter can be used in conjunction with any major brand building automation system program.