Energy Monitoring Savings Estimator

Example data table

Formula used

• Device baseline: kWh/year = (Watts × Hours/day × Days/year) ÷ 1000
• Effective reduction: Reduction% × Coverage%
• Baseline energy cost: (Off‑peak kWh × Rate) + (Peak kWh × Peak rate)
• Demand cost: Demand (kW) × Demand rate × 12
• Year‑1 energy savings: Baseline energy cost × Effective reduction
• Year‑1 demand savings: Demand cost × (0.50 × Effective reduction)
• Gross savings: Energy savings + Demand savings + optional CO₂ value
• Net savings: Gross savings − (Subscription×12 + Maintenance)
• NPV: −Upfront + Σ(Netᵧ ÷ (1 + Discount)ᵧ)

How to use this calculator

1. Enter your baseline kWh/year, or build it from the device list.
2. Set your standard rate and any peak rate or demand charges.
3. Choose a realistic reduction target and monitoring coverage.
4. Add upfront and ongoing costs to reflect your monitoring setup.
5. Submit to view savings, payback, and yearly projections above.
6. Use the CSV or PDF buttons to download the latest results.

Energy baselines for garden operations

A reliable baseline converts scattered utility bills into a single annual kWh figure. This estimator accepts a direct annual baseline or builds it from device watts, runtime hours, and operating days. Comparing both views helps validate inputs and spot missing loads like circulation fans, fertigation controllers, or winter frost protection. A tighter baseline improves every downstream metric, including kWh saved and annual cost avoided.

Monitoring coverage and realistic reduction targets

Savings depend on what you actually measure. The model applies an effective reduction equal to your target reduction multiplied by monitoring coverage. For example, a 10% target with 70% coverage produces a 7% effective reduction, preventing overly optimistic projections. Early wins often come from identifying standby losses, oversized runtimes, clogged filters raising pump draw, or mistimed lighting cycles.

Time-of-use and demand charge impacts

Many sites pay different rates for peak and off‑peak energy, and some also pay demand charges based on maximum kW. The calculator splits annual kWh by peak share, values each portion at its rate, and estimates demand savings conservatively at half of the effective reduction. This reflects that demand drops usually require schedule changes, staggered startups, or soft‑start drives. Use peak share to model evening lighting or midday irrigation peaks.

Investment, ongoing costs, and payback signals

Upfront equipment and installation costs are treated as an initial investment, while subscriptions and maintenance reduce annual net savings. The yearly projection shows gross savings, net savings, cumulative net, and discounted net so you can compare simple payback against longer-term value. Inflation grows savings over time, while the discount rate converts future cashflows into today’s terms.

Planning decisions for irrigation, lighting, and climate control

Use the outputs to prioritize actions: tune pump schedules, remove nighttime leaks, adjust lighting photoperiods, and calibrate thermostats. If NPV is positive and payback fits your budget cycle, monitoring can justify itself while improving reliability through fault detection, alerts for abnormal draw, and maintenance timing. Start with key loads, then expand coverage.

FAQs

1) Should I enter baseline kWh or use the device table?

If you know annual kWh from bills or a meter, enter it for accuracy. If not, use the device table to estimate baseline from watts, hours, and days. Leave baseline blank to rely on devices.

2) What does monitoring coverage mean in the calculation?

Coverage is the portion of your energy loads you can actually measure and act on. The estimator multiplies your reduction target by coverage to avoid crediting savings on unmonitored equipment.

3) How are peak rates handled?

You set a peak usage share and a peak rate. The model splits annual kWh into peak and off‑peak portions and prices each portion separately, which is useful for lighting schedules and timed irrigation.

4) Why is demand savings estimated at half the reduction?

Demand charges are driven by short, high‑power events. Monitoring helps reduce peaks, but not always in the same proportion as energy use. A 50% factor is a conservative assumption for scheduling and startup controls.

5) What is NPV and why is it useful?

NPV adds all discounted net savings over the analysis period and subtracts upfront cost. A positive NPV suggests the project returns more value than your chosen discount rate, helping compare alternatives fairly.

6) Can I include environmental benefits?

Yes. Add a CO₂ factor (kg per kWh) to estimate avoided emissions. If you also enter a CO₂ value and enable the option, the estimator adds that value to gross savings for reporting and planning.