Energy software a useful tool. (Technology Update).

Energy accounting software has been around for many years and has shows itself to be a good way to track energy use and cost. It has recently gone through many changes, with some vendors disappearing and new hightech offerings taking their place. New versions may be web-based, and may even automatically receive and enter utility billing data. Others have merged energy accounting with energy management by building in near real-time meter reading and automated price and demand responses. All this choice has, however, made picking the best product for a facility all the more difficult.

That's the message of "Energy Accounting Software: What's Available, What's New?," the January Tip of the Month at www.energybuyer.org a service of Energywiz, Inc. Energywiz is a New York-based energy consulting firm focused on helping commercial/industrial energy customers and their consultants get the most out of the competitive energy marketplace.

Most managers of commercial and industrial facilities lack the time to scrutinize utility bills and meter readings. To help them, they have used energy accounting software tools to understand where their energy dollars are going, and how to save them.