# Best Energy Management Software - Page 7 *By [Neya Kumaresan](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/neya-kumaresan)* Energy management software reports and monitors energy system usage in facilities, saving businesses money on energy costs. These solutions include real-time energy usage monitoring, energy data analytics, HVAC systems controls, and carbon and sustainability reporting. Energy management software often contains tools that alter energy usage to promote more efficient consumption and reduce carbon emissions. Businesses use energy management software to maintain a single source of truth for all data related to energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions through smart energy distribution, analyze energy consumption, and reduce energy consumption-related costs. Software in this category is designed to improve efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce operational costs. Energy management software is similar to [sustainability management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/sustainability-management), and products overlap in feature sets quite a bit. Energy management and sustainability management software are sometimes used in concert and occasionally integrate, interacting with IoT-connected sensors that monitor energy usage in real time. To qualify for inclusion in the Energy Management category, a product must: - Monitor energy consumption from multiple sources - Actively engage with energy-consuming systems by altering energy usage - Produce auditable energy consumption reports - Contain data analytics tools to digest energy consumption-related data ## How Many Energy Management Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 276 ### Category Stats (May 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.3/5 (↑0.02 vs Apr 2026) - **New Reviews This Quarter**: 8 - **Buyer Segments**: Small-Business 77% │ Mid-Market 15% │ Enterprise 8% - **Top Trending Product**: Ekotrope (+0.019) *Last updated: May 18, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Energy Management Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 600+ Authentic Reviews - 276+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Which Energy Management Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Leader:** [Spacewell Energy](https://www.g2.com/products/spacewell-energy/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [Galooli](https://www.g2.com/products/galooli/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [Apollo](https://www.g2.com/products/apollo-2024-11-14/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [Apollo](https://www.g2.com/products/apollo-2024-11-14/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Energy Elephant](https://www.g2.com/products/energy-elephant/reviews) ## What Are the Top-Rated Energy Management Software Products in 2026? ### 1. [energyControl](https://www.g2.com/products/energycontrol/reviews) energyControl holistically optimizes heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. **Who Is the Company Behind energyControl?** - **Seller:** [Recogizer Group](https://www.g2.com/sellers/recogizer-group) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Bonn, DE - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/recogizer (33 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 2. [Energy Inspection](https://www.g2.com/products/energy-inspection/reviews) Energy Inspection Pty Ltd is an Australian company specializing in energy assessment and certification services for residential and commercial buildings. They offer a range of services, including energy modeling software, energy auditing, and compliance certification, to help clients achieve energy efficiency and meet regulatory standards. Key Features and Functionality: - Energy Modeling Software: Provides tools for estimating and analyzing energy consumption in buildings, facilitating the issuance of energy rating certificates. - Energy Auditing: Conducts comprehensive assessments to identify areas for energy conservation and efficiency improvements. - Compliance Certification: Offers certification services to ensure buildings meet energy efficiency standards and regulations. - Educational Resources: Supplies training materials and seminars to educate clients on energy efficiency practices. Primary Value and Solutions: Energy Inspection addresses the need for energy-efficient building practices by providing tools and services that enable property owners and developers to assess and improve their buildings' energy performance. By offering energy modeling software and auditing services, the company helps clients reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and comply with energy efficiency regulations. Their educational resources further empower clients to implement sustainable practices, contributing to environmental conservation and enhanced building performance. **Who Is the Company Behind Energy Inspection?** - **Seller:** [Energy Inspection](https://www.g2.com/sellers/energy-inspection) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 3. [Energy Lens](https://www.g2.com/products/energy-lens/reviews) BizEE Software Ltd is a UK company making software to help businesses and other organizations save energy. **Who Is the Company Behind Energy Lens?** - **Seller:** [Bizeesoftware](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bizeesoftware) - **HQ Location:** SWANSEA, GB - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/bizee-software-limited (2 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 4. [EnergyLogix Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/energylogix-enterprise/reviews) EnergyLogix Enterprise can provide multiple levels of access, enabling visitors and staff to simply view how your company manages it's energy, to full administrative interaction which allows you access for whole enterprise energy management through a single interface. **Who Is the Company Behind EnergyLogix Enterprise?** - **Seller:** [Senselogix](https://www.g2.com/sellers/senselogix) - **Year Founded:** 2019 - **HQ Location:** St Asaph, GB - **Twitter:** @SenseLogix (323 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/energylogix-com/ (5 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 5. [Energy Methods](https://www.g2.com/products/energy-methods/reviews) Energy Methods brings complete energy management solutions for the industrial and commercial sectors. Energy Methods captures all consumption, production and cost data and combines it with important factors such as environmental and process specific data. It then goes to generate a complete view of energy performance of the facility in question. **Who Is the Company Behind Energy Methods?** - **Seller:** [Quad Infotech](https://www.g2.com/sellers/quad-infotech) - **Year Founded:** 1992 - **HQ Location:** Toronto, CA - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/584343 (63 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 6. [energyOS](https://www.g2.com/products/energyos/reviews) Reisenbauer Solutions specializes in providing innovative B2B software solutions focused on e-mobility and energy management for businesses, facilities, and communities. Their core products include chargeOS for charging management and billing, and energyOS for energy management and monitoring. energyOS is our modular platform for intelligent energy management. It combines all relevant energy components - photovoltaics, storage, consumers, charging infrastructure - in one central system. Cross-site, hardware-independent and 100% customizable. **Who Is the Company Behind energyOS?** - **Seller:** [Reisenbauer Solutions](https://www.g2.com/sellers/reisenbauer-solutions) - **HQ Location:** Wien, AT - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/reisenbauersolutions/ (9 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 7. [EnergyPrint](https://www.g2.com/products/energyprint/reviews) EnergyPrint sets the standard for how building professionals find and use energy insights to improve commercial building value. **Who Is the Company Behind EnergyPrint?** - **Seller:** [Energyprint](https://www.g2.com/sellers/energyprint) - **Year Founded:** 2009 - **HQ Location:** St Paul, US - **Twitter:** @EnergyPrint (574 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/energyprint/ (14 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 8. [EnergyPro](https://www.g2.com/products/energypro/reviews) Software will evaluate current or prospective buildings to determine and define requirements for energy emissions **Who Is the Company Behind EnergyPro?** - **Seller:** [EnergySoft](https://www.g2.com/sellers/energysoft) - **HQ Location:** Novato, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-soft (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 9. [Energy Risk VuePoint](https://www.g2.com/products/energy-risk-vuepoint/reviews) Established in 2010, VuePoint Solutions has emerged as a leading force in the energy sector, delivering innovative software solutions from our headquarters in Andover, Hampshire. Our flagship product, Energy Risk VuePoint is a versatile platform enabling suppliers, consultants, and major energy users to effectively manage procurement and energy strategies, internally and on behalf of their customers. The modern energy market demands clarity, speed, and integration. VuePoint Solutions unites every aspect of energy management, from procurement and pricing to risk, reporting, and sustainability, in one intelligent platform. Supporting multiple commodities and systems, it delivers flexibility, scalability, and seamless connectivity. Alongside our flagship product, we've launched our scalable, modular offering – Energy VuePoint Omni(EVO). EVO grows and scales with your businesses, with a single source of truth, organisations can make smarter decisions, improve efficiency, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. **Who Is the Company Behind Energy Risk VuePoint?** - **Seller:** [Vpsl](https://www.g2.com/sellers/vpsl) - **Year Founded:** 2010 - **HQ Location:** Andover, England, United Kingdom - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1319765 (17 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 10. [EnergySequence](https://www.g2.com/products/energysequence/reviews) EnergySequence is the flagship product of Bettergy SL , an organization committed to a change in the current energy model in favor of energy efficiency. It brings together knowledge of energy efficiency, data analytics, and software to deliver reliable data, intelligence, and recommendations that help: -Select buildings -Attract and engage customers -Converting energy efficiency projects into savings -Monitoring opportunities more effectively **Who Is the Company Behind EnergySequence?** - **Seller:** [Bettergy](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bettergy) - **HQ Location:** N/A - **Twitter:** @bettergy (380 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/No-Linkedin-Presence-Added-Intentionally-By-DataOps (1 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 11. [Energy Tracking Service](https://www.g2.com/products/energy-tracking-service/reviews) With an innovative, cost-effective mechanism in place to monitor fuel distribution and consumption across its tower sites, a pioneering telecom infrastructure provider can now optimize its fuel consumption **Who Is the Company Behind Energy Tracking Service?** - **Seller:** [Infozech Software](https://www.g2.com/sellers/infozech-software) - **Year Founded:** 1999 - **HQ Location:** New Delhi, IN - **Twitter:** @InfozechS (123 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/infozech/ (235 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 12. [Enersee](https://www.g2.com/products/enersee/reviews) Enersee is an AI-powered energy management software that makes energy efficiency effortless across 10’s, 100’s and 1000’s of buildings. Acting as a 24/7 Virtual Energy Manager, it is designed to simplify life for energy, facility, and sustainability managers. **Who Is the Company Behind Enersee?** - **Seller:** [Enersee](https://www.g2.com/sellers/enersee) - **Year Founded:** 2021 - **HQ Location:** Brussels , BE - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/enersee/ (18 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 13. [Enexplan](https://www.g2.com/products/enexplan/reviews) EnExPlan helps companies and organizations save money by helping them find, implement and track energy saving measures for their buildings. EnExPlan stands for Energy Expert Planning and is a do-it-yourself energy saving software. **Who Is the Company Behind Enexplan?** - **Seller:** [Almiranta](https://www.g2.com/sellers/almiranta) - **Year Founded:** 2012 - **HQ Location:** Panama City, PA - **Twitter:** @AlmirantaCorp (571 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://linkedin.com/company/almiranta (13 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 14. [Enlitia](https://www.g2.com/products/enlitia/reviews) We are building the first Algorithm Ecosystem for sustainable energy companies. Full dedication and passion about solving renewable energy challenges is our secret to unlock the value of energy data. By harnessing the power of AI, we want to revolutionise the way renewable energy is produced, distributed and consumed. **Who Is the Company Behind Enlitia?** - **Seller:** [Enlitia](https://www.g2.com/sellers/enlitia) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/enlitia **Who Uses This Product?** - **Company Size:** 50% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market ### 15. [Enmon](https://www.g2.com/products/enmon/reviews) Take control of your energy & emissions Enmon is the energy & sustainability management platform, that combines software, hardware & energy know-how. Delivering real-time data, measures and reduces energy consumption, costs and lowers the CO2 emissions. **Who Is the Company Behind Enmon?** - **Seller:** [Enmon](https://www.g2.com/sellers/enmon) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Brno, CZ - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/enmon-technologies-s-r-o (11 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 16. [Enosi](https://www.g2.com/products/enosi/reviews) Google, Microsoft, IBM and dozens of the world’s largest enterprises are seeking to power their operations with clean energy. Tracing carbon free energy is the next global benchmark and Enosi has built the platform to enable traceability from source to socket 24/7. We’re calling it Powertracer. **Who Is the Company Behind Enosi?** - **Seller:** [Enosi](https://www.g2.com/sellers/enosi) - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Sydney, AU - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/enosienergy/ (18 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 17. [ENSEK](https://www.g2.com/products/ensek/reviews) ENSEK helps energy suppliers provide a better customer experience through modern technology and the power of data. **Who Is the Company Behind ENSEK?** - **Seller:** [ENSEK](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ensek) - **Year Founded:** 2010 - **HQ Location:** Nottingham, England, United Kingdom - **Twitter:** @ENSEKLtd (266 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ensek/ (411 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 18. [enteliWEB](https://www.g2.com/products/enteliweb/reviews) enteliWEB is an unprecedented system of dashboards and apps that can be entirely customized to present your data how and when you want. It effortlessly connects to all your facilities under one login, without having to create a giant unmanageable network. **Who Is the Company Behind enteliWEB?** - **Seller:** [Delta Controls](https://www.g2.com/sellers/delta-controls) - **Year Founded:** 1980 - **HQ Location:** Surrey, British Columbia, Canada - **Twitter:** @deltacontrols (2,017 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/delta-controls (361 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 19. [Enterprise Data Xchange (EDX)](https://www.g2.com/products/enterprise-data-xchange-edx/reviews) Enterprise Data Xchange (EDX) Smart Building Platform controls, manages, and monitors millions of data points from HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, industrial and consumer facing machines to do smart things. EDX enables enterprise-wide visibility providing predictions, actions and insights that help maximize comfort and savings. **Who Is the Company Behind Enterprise Data Xchange (EDX)?** - **Seller:** [PhoenixET](https://www.g2.com/sellers/phoenixet) - **Year Founded:** 2004 - **HQ Location:** Irvine, US - **Twitter:** @PhoenixET (182 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** http://www.linkedin.com/company/1229654 (78 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 20. [Ento Advisor: AI Energy Management](https://www.g2.com/products/ento-advisor-ai-energy-management/reviews) Founded in 2019, Ento supports energy teams to execute more projects, document results and build a long term energy strategy based on real data and powerful analytics. The AI-powered Energy Advisor helps commercial and private building owners as well as commercial real estate companies and asset managers to turn their thousands of data points into actionable insights. Our advisor analyses any type of energy data: Electricity Water Gas District heating Solar Technical installations No upfront investments required: Our software uses existing hardware and doesn't need an energy or building management system. How it works: 1. We integrate with standard energy data sources, directly with your utility or through internal systems. 2. Energy meters are automatically allocated to the relevant buildings. 3. Your energy data is automatically analysed in combination with data sources we know affect energy consumption in buildings, e.g. weather and opening hours. 4. You will receive the first analysis within 24 hours. 5. We then help you to prioritise your efforts, implement projects, and verify savings according to the IPMVP standard. 6. After implementation, the virtual advisor monitors consumption and sends alerts when unexpected changes occur so that you can take action fast. Your benefits: In short, Ento helps you save energy, time, money, and resources. Who is the product intended for: Among others, our users are energy managers, building managers, facility managers, sustainability/ESG managers, energy project managers, or energy consultants **Who Is the Company Behind Ento Advisor: AI Energy Management?** - **Seller:** [Ento](https://www.g2.com/sellers/ento-1d69ad4b-99e7-436f-a50e-d0ea0a76ae88) - **Year Founded:** 2019 - **HQ Location:** Aarhus, DK - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/entolabs (33 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 21. [Entouch Smart Building Solutions](https://www.g2.com/products/entouch-smart-building-solutions/reviews) ENTOUCH is the pioneer in smart building technology offering a tightly integrated hardware and software solution that is continually updated. We reduce energy usage, simplify management and drive profitability for multi-site operators. Verticals served include Fitness, Retail, Financial Services, Healthcare, Restaurants and Childcare **Who Is the Company Behind Entouch Smart Building Solutions?** - **Seller:** [Entouch Controls](https://www.g2.com/sellers/entouch-controls) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** Richardson, US - **Twitter:** @EnTouchControls (734 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/entouch-controls/ (78 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 22. [enTrader](https://www.g2.com/products/entrader/reviews) enTrader is an award-winning\* Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM) solution, that simplifies energy trading, and is used by leading energy businesses in the UK and across Europe. The software features advanced capabilities to manage any point in the energy value chain, including generation, wholesale and retail trading. It is designed to be easy to use and flexible, so that it can adapt with businesses, without the need for costly re-configuration. **Who Is the Company Behind enTrader?** - **Seller:** [Contigo](https://www.g2.com/sellers/contigo) - **Year Founded:** 2007 - **HQ Location:** North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-one (156 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 23. [En-trak Energy for Business](https://www.g2.com/products/en-trak-energy-for-business/reviews) En-trak is an award-winning proptech company that develops IoT solutions for commercial buildings in Asia. Working with landlords and managers, the solution has been used and trusted by over 450 world-class customers in Asia including HK Stock Exchange, HKCEC, Sino Group, Chinachem among many. En-trak is backed by established tech conglomerate Alibaba and CLP Group. Features of our solution included: -Intuitive data visualization -Advanced data analytics -Customizable reports -Real-time instantaneous alerts -Energy data - on the go Visit en-trak.com or drop a message at info@en-trak.com for more information! **Who Is the Company Behind En-trak Energy for Business?** - **Seller:** [En-trak](https://www.g2.com/sellers/en-trak) - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** Hong Kong, HK - **Twitter:** @En_trak (46 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/en-trak-hong-kong-limited/ (6 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 24. [Entronix](https://www.g2.com/products/entronix/reviews) Increases efficiency throughout your portfolio **Who Is the Company Behind Entronix?** - **Seller:** [Entronix](https://www.g2.com/sellers/entronix-9a123a19-9233-48c5-9a25-092a80e3db20) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Frisco, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/entronix/ (16 employees on LinkedIn®) ### 25. [Entronix EMP](https://www.g2.com/products/entronix-emp/reviews) Entronix Energy Management Platform offers a sophisticated, powerful, and multi-faceted product which is simple to deploy and can be run independent from, along-side, or on-top of an existing building automation system. Energy and/or controls data is sent securely to the cloud, where pre-made and customizable reports, dashboards, and visualizations are available via a secured web gateway. Fault-detection, billing, maintenance, budgeting, and many other features are included free in EMP. **Who Is the Company Behind Entronix EMP?** - **Seller:** [Entronix](https://www.g2.com/sellers/entronix-9a123a19-9233-48c5-9a25-092a80e3db20) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Frisco, US - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/entronix/ (16 employees on LinkedIn®) ## What Is Energy Management Software? [Utilities Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/utilities) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Energy Management Software? ### What You Should Know About Energy Management Software ### What is Energy Management Software? Energy management software, often referred to as energy management systems (EMS), tracks and manages facilities’ energy usage. Energy management tools may contain features that include real-time meter monitoring, HVAC controls, energy usage monitoring and dashboards, sustainability reporting, and carbon usage reporting. These systems are designed to help companies monitor, manage, and ultimately reduce their energy consumption and boost energy savings.  For example, a data center with high energy consumption levels because of the costs associated with cooling huge server racks is looking to boost efficiency and reduce emissions. The organization may implement a piece of energy management software to determine the current state of their energy consumption and actively manage their energy usage to reduce environmental and financial costs.  ### What are the Common Features of Energy Management Software? The following are some core features within energy management software that can help users: **Energy monitoring:** This software feature monitors energy consumption and usage in real time. This feature is the core of many energy management solutions and lets users see their energy usage live. EMS tools increase the amount of automation within the energy management process and help streamline it, boosting cost savings in the process.  **Systems management:** The software helps manage energy usage within internet-connected systems. As IoT-connected devices become more prevalent, connectivity becomes easier across facilities, and live monitoring sensors can constantly transmit monitoring data to energy management systems for far-flung devices. This feature allows users to make adjustments across an organization’s energy-consuming technology.  **Analytics dashboard:** This EMS feature provides users with a single-pane view of analysis related to energy consumption across devices and systems. A dashboard allows users to have a real-time view of information important to them, often producing visualizations for users to easily digest information.  **Benchmarking:** This feature allows users to compare their energy usage and efficiency performance against standardized benchmarks. This feature can be useful when a business is looking to meet a specific energy efficiency standard or reduce its energy use to a certain level.  **Report production:** This software feature helps produce reports on energy consumption across a given facility or multiple facilities. These energy monitoring reports can be used to make informed decisions related to energy policy and device or systems usage throughout a facility to reduce overall consumption.  **Systems integrations:** This feature helps connect the software with all energy-consuming systems and devices within a given facility. To monitor energy consumption and reduce energy use, energy management systems need to be connected with the devices they monitor to collect energy data.  ### What are the Benefits of Energy Management Software? The benefits of energy management software include: **Improves energy efficiency:** Energy management tools allow businesses to reduce the amount of energy they use by providing the ability to adjust consumption depending on real-time data collected by monitoring devices. This is particularly important for enterprises with a high level of consumption, as these tools help them reduce utility bill costs. By using these solutions, companies can reduce their energy costs and tout a reduced carbon footprint, which is often a large part of organizations’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and initiatives.  **Provides live data collection:** Real-time information on energy consumption allows facilities managers to craft and implement energy policy via energy control systems that focus on optimization. Cloud-based energy management systems drive deeper levels of understanding by streamlining energy data collection and giving easy access to energy data. Companies can benchmark against key performance indicators (KPIs) to reduce carbon emissions and drive improved energy efficiency metrics.  ### Who Uses Energy Management Software? **Facility managers:** Facility managers look after all operational aspects of running a building or multiple buildings. They use energy management systems to consolidate energy consumption and management-related tasks and introduce more automation to their work to boost efficiency.  #### Software Related to Energy Management Software Related solutions that can be used together with energy management software include: [Sustainability management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/sustainability-management) **:** Energy and sustainability management software tools provide similar functionality. While energy management solutions focus on operational efficiency and energy consumption monitoring, sustainability management tools focus on compliance with emissions standards and reducing the overall business impact on the environment.  [Meter data management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/meter-data-management) **:** Energy management software provides complementary functionality to meter data management software. Meter data management solutions monitor data gathered by smart meters. Energy management systems can use that data to help provide facility managers with more insight into energy consumption.  ### Challenges with Energy Management Software Energy management solutions can come with their own set of challenges.  **Lack of IoT devices:** Energy management systems are only as good as the amount of real-time data they can collect. If an EMS cannot connect to a specific piece of energy-consuming equipment, then it has a blind spot. Every piece of machinery, technology, or equipment that consumes energy in a given facility should have an internet-connected sensor or device to transmit real-time information on consumption to the energy management solution.  **Security:** Security will always be a concern for an organization with thousands of internet-connected devices. An EMS will typically connect to many different endpoints, given the amount of energy-consuming devices within a facility or organization. To address this concern, a security stakeholder should be involved from the start of the research process to help steer the selection committee toward a robust and secure solution to mitigate risk down the line after implementation.  ### How to Buy Energy Management Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Energy Management Software The selection team should put a list of their requirements together and include all relevant facility-specific information. The number of energy-consuming devices, all historical energy consumption information, future expansion plans, and desired outcomes should be considered. The process should also involve security stakeholders, particularly if the facilities the EMS manages are critical to the business or organizational functioning.  #### Compare Energy Management Software Products **Create a long list** The long list should comprise all products meeting the list of core functionality put together during the requirements gathering phase.  **Create a short list** The short list should comprise all products that fit the specific needs, including ones with nice-to-have features. The short list should consider security concerns and expectations for ROI to measure success post-implementation.  **Conduct demos** During the demo process, a list of questions should be put together and asked. The list should include specific scenarios likely to occur during the regular management of a given facility in which the energy management system will be used.  #### Selection of Energy Management Software **Choose a selection team** The selection team should contain an actual user (typically a facility manager), a systems specialist responsible for integrating the new tool into the existing tech stack, and a security stakeholder with compliance knowledge. The team should also include anyone with an understanding of exactly how the new EMS will fit into the tech landscape at the organization.  **Final decision** The final decision should be a collective one, made by the selection committee and taking into account all relevant needs and concerns.