Why Data Matters More Than Habits

Myth 1: “We already have a meter—so we’re covered.”

One meter may tell you how much energy you’re using overall but not where that usage is coming from, or why. Without more granular data, you’re still guessing.

“People often rely on habits or what worked at their last site,” says Fekra. “But every building is different. You need to design based on this site—not the one before it.”

Myth 2: “Energy monitoring only matters if I can change how or when I use equipment.”

Not true. Even if operations are fixed, data can help you protect assets and avoid costly failures.

Take sensitive medical equipment, like an X-ray machine. You can’t just power it down during peak periods—and you shouldn’t have to. But if you’re unknowingly feeding it poor-quality power, you’re risking expensive faults and faster degradation. With the right data, you can identify those issues and fix them without ever turning the machine off.

Myth 3: “What works at home works at work.”

“Well, at home, off-peak times are cheaper so surely the same logic applies here.” That kind of thinking is natural but risky. Industrial tariffs, operational demands, and load profiles don’t behave like a household.

“Don’t let emotions or habits drive your energy strategy,” says Fekra. “Let the data speak. Because what you think is happening and what’s actually happening are often very different.”

Myth 4: “Small changes won’t add up.”

Sometimes, the opposite is true.

“For example, one Australian chain using Socomec’s energy monitoring range trialled a small change: reducing oven temperatures by just 2°C and cooking a bit longer. The data showed them exactly where to focus. The trial proved successful, so they rolled it out across multiple sites, and when scaled, that small adjustment delivered serious cost savings.”