The Brescia project is a prime example of the importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation of the low energy solutions. The project has included a comprehensive energy management system, which manages and monitors the following performance data:

1. Space heating consumption (kWh): data from the heat meter of each apartment
2. DHW consumption (m³): data from volumetric meter of each apartment
3. DHW consumption (kWh): data from the heat meters located in the three thermal central plant (heat supplied by local district heating network)
4. Solar contribution (kWh): data from the heat meter of each solar central plant
5. Global heat consumption for DHW and space heating supplied by the local district heating network (MWh): data from the heat meters located in the three thermal central plant
6. Cold water consumption (m³): data from the volumetric meter of each apartment.

This is possible by using local energy meters in each dwelling. The energy meters, which conform to the European standard and can communicate with the Energy Management System, can measure or control the following parameters:

• internal temperature
• hot and cold water consumption by volume
• energy consumption for space heating 
• energy for domestic hot water production generated by solar system
• energy for domestic hot water production generated by district heating

The data is then processed in the central PC via the energy management system (EMS). The system is DDC type (direct digital control), and it consists of single autonomous peripheral units connected to a central unit by a communication bus. The EMS communicates not only with the energy meters in the dwellings but can also automatically regulate the solar heating system in order to establish the optimal energy transfer.

The central PC unit, which analyses and stores the data, is provided with a software monitoring program selected by the user and connected to a computer located in a office of ALER Brescia. Most monitoring software has additional control features:

• Displays graphical images
• Depicts alarms and messages coming from the system To control system status, alarms and commands with reference to all the operating periods
• Operates on just a part of the system
• Modifies the programmed time-tables graphically
• Defines different access levels to the system
• Files and elaborates data
• Generates reports and trends concerning system data
• Mails messages automatically to service personnel, by means of a radio paging system connected to the telephone network

The entire system thereby makes up a regulatory framework that enables the user to optimise the energy system continuously.

General information on EMS

Suppliers of Technology:
The entire system includes elements from a few companies, yet the chief supplier is the Coster T.E., which has bases in both Italy and the UK.

EMS
COSTER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS LTD www.costerte.com
Coster designs, manufactures, supllies and services a range of safety & energy efficient control equipment such as energy meters, data transmission, detectors, sensors, controllers, valves, actuators and more. 
Address: 5 Shaftesbury Street South, Sir Francis Ley Industrial Park, Derby DE23 8YH
Phone: +44 (0) 1332 200555 Fax: +44 (0) 1332 204181
e-mail: cec01332200555@aol.com (UK) or support@costerte.com (IT)