DOLD’s Intelligent Monitoring and Control of Building Services

18-08-2025

Energy Costs Down, Safety and Compliance Up

Ian Holland, Managing Director at DOLD Industries, explains how efficiency-first thinking can help building services teams identify hidden inefficiencies—unlocking cost savings, improving safety, and reducing risk. As pressure mounts around decarbonisation and budget accountability, he highlights the value of partnering with a controls and monitoring specialist to drive smarter, more sustainable performance.

As pressure mounts to decarbonise the built-environment, much of the current public sector focus leans toward high-impact retrofit projects. Upgrading to low-carbon heating systems or replacing ageing infrastructure offers visible policy wins that align neatly with funding cycles.

However, this emphasis on capital investment risks overlooking a more immediate, cost-effective opportunity already present in most buildings: improving the operational efficiency of existing systems.

This “efficiency-first” approach – often described as the first fuel – centres on optimising how plant and equipment perform through better monitoring, maintenance, control, and system balancing. For building services engineers and facilities managers, the ability to deliver measurable carbon reductions and cost savings without major disruption or expense is not just attractive – it’s increasingly essential. At a time when building stock is ageing and budgets are stretched, this shift in approach invites greater collaboration with control and monitoring specialists who can deliver smarter, more responsive building performance strategies.

Uncovering Hidden Gains in Existing Systems

Improving operational efficiency doesn’t always require new infrastructure – it often starts with better visibility and control over the systems already in place. From sub-metering and insulation monitoring to battery performance insights, there are practical, scalable steps facilities teams can take to cut waste, reduce downtime and improve performance. These strategies are especially valuable in older buildings, where disruption must be minimised, and every pound of investment must deliver.

Three areas in particular offer significant potential for impact:

1. Real-Time Energy Monitoring

Energy efficiency starts with visibility – not just in the moment, but over time. Without accurate, real-time insight into how and where energy is being consumed, building operators are effectively working blind.

Real-time energy monitoring gives facilities managers a live view of energy use at the system or circuit level, while also logging historical data to reveal long-term trends, seasonal shifts, and emerging inefficiencies.

See the Full Picture – Past and Present

• By combining live data with historical trends, you can spot patterns that might otherwise slip under the radar.
• Example: If you notice overnight usage spikes, it could be as simple as an HVAC setting or standby equipment left running.
• With clear, evidence-based insights, you can focus on the changes that deliver the biggest savings – and move from guesswork to confident action.

Stay Ahead of Problems

• Real-time monitoring gives you a heads-up before issues become costly failures.
• Watch for signs like:
  • Unexpected energy surges
  • Uneven load distribution
  • Motors or pumps working harder than they should
• In sensitive areas like server rooms, early detection can prevent downtime, protect equipment, and keep operations running smoothly.

Control from Anywhere

• Today’s smart meters – like the RL9405 from DOLD’s VARIMETER Pro series – connect seamlessly using open protocols such as Modbus TCP/RTU.
• This means they slot right into your existing systems and let your team:
  • Monitor multiple sites remotely
  • Direct maintenance crews exactly where they’re needed
  • Fine-tune building performance without stepping foot onsite

2. Insulation Monitoring of Legacy Electrical Systems

Many commercial buildings still operate with electrical infrastructure that’s 20, 30, or even 40 years old.

While these legacy systems may remain operational, their condition often falls short of today’s safety and efficiency standards– particularly in terms of insulation integrity. As wiring ages, insulation can deteriorate due to heat, moisture, mechanical wear, or chemical exposure. This degradation increases the risk of leakage currents, phase imbalance, or, in severe cases, complete system failure.

Improved Safety with Continuous Monitoring

• Insulation monitoring devices – like DOLD’s VARIMETER IMD series – spot developing electrical faults long before they become critical.
• Unlike periodic checks (which only capture a moment in time), continuous monitoring delivers real-time alerts, making it easier to:
  • Plan proactive maintenance
  • Avoid costly, unplanned outages
  • Extend the life of existing infrastructure
• This is especially valuable in older systems, offering both safety reassurance and peace of mind.

Where Safety Meets Energy Efficiency

• While these devices are designed for safety, they can also boost energy performance.
• Problems like degraded insulation can cause:
  • Small but constant leakage currents
  • Higher impedance
  • Uneven load distribution
• These issues quietly waste energy and push up operating costs. Detecting them early means you protect both efficiency and safety.

A Strong Base for Smarter Control

• In legacy buildings, electrical documentation is often incomplete – making system monitoring even more critical.
• Continuous insulation monitoring provides the confidence to:
  • Implement smart load scheduling
  • Integrate renewable energy sources
  • Push ahead with advanced optimisation strategies
• With a sound electrical foundation, even ageing systems can support modern, energy-efficient operations.

3. Battery Symmetry Monitoring in Energy Storage and Emergency Power Systems

As buildings increasingly rely on energy storage – whether through battery-backed UPS systems or larger renewable installations – maintaining the health and balance of those batteries becomes critical .

One often-overlooked aspects of battery maintenance is symmetry: ensuring that each cell within the battery bank charges and discharges evenly. While many engineers are familiar with the concept, fewer fully appreciate its operational significance – particularly in avoiding premature battery degradation, unexpected failures, or loss of backup power.

The Role of Battery Symmetry Monitoring

• Battery symmetry monitoring – such as DOLD’s BA9054 series – gives you real-time insight into the health of individual battery cells.
• By tracking voltage across each cell, facilities teams can:
  • Spot early signs of degradation
  • Replace failing units before they cause bigger issues
  • Reduce strain on the rest of the battery system

Built-In Resilience for Critical Environments

• In sites where power must never fail – hospitals, data centres, modern offices, or facilities with essential systems (lifts, emergency lighting, IT infrastructure) – battery monitoring is a non-negotiable safeguard.
• Benefits include:
  • Extended battery life
  • Fewer unplanned maintenance visits
  • Reliable performance when backup power is needed most

Smarter Operations, Lower Risk

• Real-time energy monitoring, insulation monitoring, and battery symmetry are just the starting point.
• With live system data, building operators can:
  • Improve efficiency
  • Reduce risk
  • Extend equipment life
  • Build a strong case for future upgrades

Technology Plus Expertise = Real Results

• The biggest gains come from combining the right technology with the right expertise.
• A specialist partner can:
  • Select the best-fit tools for your needs
  • Integrate them seamlessly into existing systems
  • Minimise downtime during installation
  • Unlock value quickly – even in older or more complex environments

In a sector under increasing pressure to decarbonise, the temptation to leap straight into capital-intensive retrofits is understandable. But operational efficiency shouldn’t be overlooked — it’s faster to deploy, more affordable, and often delivers immediate results. By working with the right partner, and putting the right monitoring and control strategies in place, building services engineers and facilities managers can achieve measurable improvements today while laying the groundwork for smarter, more sustainable systems tomorrow. Efficiency, after all, is still the first fuel!

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