In short
Demand charges are set by your single busiest half hour
Pre-cooling and staggered starts flatten the peak
Peak savings often beat the energy savings
Many commercial tariffs charge for two things: how much energy you use, and the highest amount you draw at any one time.
Why one spike matters
If every chiller and air handler starts at 8 a.m. on a hot Monday, that single peak can set the demand charge for the entire month.
One busy Monday morning can set the bill for the whole month.
Ohmwood pre-cools before expected peaks, staggers large loads by a few minutes, and keeps the building under the contracted limit you set.
The result
Customers on demand-based tariffs typically cut peak demand by 15 to 20 percent, which often saves more than the energy reduction itself.
By the numbers
−18%
Typical cut in peak demand
Written by
TR
Tomas Ribeiro
Head of Sustainability, Linden & Vale
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