Energy saving as a service

The energy transition requires innovative solutions that not only comply with stricter laws and regulations, but also create new business opportunities. Installation companies have a key role in this. By using data from different sources, they can provide customers with valuable insights and recommendations. This enables them to offer energy conservation as a service – a model that reduces costs and promotes sustainability.

Unlocking data is only the first step in realising valuable insights. The quality of the data ultimately determines whether those insights are reliable and useful for decision-making. Therefore, data quality is an essential focus throughout the chain. At Blenddata, we work with customers to ensure data quality through specific controls.

Here are three main ways we validate data:

• Checking for completeness
  Data must be complete to give a reliable picture. For example, in the case of working with quarter data, 96 data points will be expected for one day (24 hours x 4). Missing data can lead to misinterpretations. By checking that all expected data points are present, we ensure that analyses are not based on incomplete information.
• Checking for purity
  Are the data values logical and consistent? A smart meter continuously reporting zeros may indicate a malfunction or error. Such checks are essential to spot anomalies quickly. Only clean data is included in the analysis, so customers can rely on insights that are correct and immediately usable.
• Checking for outliers
  Sometimes data contains values that simply cannot be right. Say a building suddenly shows ten times more energy consumption than is physically possible – outliers like that need to be filtered out before they end up in reports. That way, the data remains representative and customers are not misled by erroneous conclusions.

Why is this Important?

For companies looking to achieve energy savings, it is crucial to be able to rely on the right data. Inaccurate or incomplete data can lead to wrong decisions, missed savings or even compliance issues. By integrating these validation processes, we ensure that analyses and reports are reliable so that you can take action with confidence.

Data quality is thus not only a technical requirement, but also an indispensable step to achieve sustainable results!

A modular and scalable underlying platform is important for companies looking to respond to market or regulatory changes now and in the future. Some of the benefits of scalable infrastructures are:

• Growth in customers or premises: Systems must be prepared to handle larger amounts of data without sacrificing speed or accuracy.
• Rapid adaptations: By easily replacing or expanding components such as sensors or data sources, systems remain relevant in a changing landscape.
• Durable platforms: Scalable platforms on Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services – and especially the right setup of these – make it easy to scale up from, say, 100 to 1,000 buildings. These platforms provide the capacity and flexibility to support growth without compromising on performance towards the end user.

Using energy data not only offers benefits for customers, but also an attractive additional revenue model for installation companies. This is often achieved through a subscription model where customers:

• Get access to dashboards with insights and reports.
• Receive regular recommendations on energy-saving measures.
• Have the opportunity to bundle advice and implementation.

An example is how Van Hout, through their proposition OVVIA, offers customers a guaranteed savings return of 20-25% through data-driven energy savings.