NASA launches energy management system

NASA has installed an enterprise energy management system at its Ames Research Center facility near San Francisco to control power usage and reduce costs. Designed by Jacobs/Sverdrup Technology, the system monitors power usage throughout the center, including the facility’s three large wind tunnels, which are used regularly for aeronautic research and development testing.

Manufactured by Power Measurement, Victoria, Canada, the system uses Ion Enterprise software installed on more than a dozen PC workstations combined with nearly 100 Ion 7330 and Ion 7700 meters to help facility personnel manage and schedule real-time future energy usage.

Since installing the system, the Ames Center has reported a significant drop in energy expenditures and a greater ability to maintain integrated demand below monthly allowable levels.