“How sub-metering changed the way Nissan, Smyrna plant does business”

Summary form only given. As the old adage goes, you can only manage what you measure. So it follows that the more you measure, the better you will manage. Unfortunately, it´s not so simple. Developing systems that measure more is complex. Plus, having significantly more data can be overwhelming unless there is a strategy for how to use it. With the right plan for leveraging more information, greater granularity of energy data can become a powerful tool for any energy management program. New sub-metering, integration, and networking technologies are also making these systems more affordable. Not surprisingly, more companies are exploring developing real-time tracking systems. At its largest U.S. auto manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee, Nissan discovered a wealth of savings opportunities through the plant´s sub-metering efforts. The process of connecting all of the plant´s large, energy-consuming pieces of equipment to sub-meters and a real-time energy data collection system was initially met with some reservation by plant staff because it was viewed as a time-consuming project. However, once the plant was fully metered and reports of end-use energy consumption profiles were generated, the value of the new system and its capabilities were immediately recognized by staff and corporate leaders alike.