How Energy Submetering Helps Buildings Improve Visibility and Control Costs

Energy remains one of the most controllable operating expenses in a building. Yet many facilities still operate with limited visibility into how that energy is used. 

Utility bills show total consumption, but they don’t explain how energy is used, or where, why, and how to improve it. This lack of visibility makes it difficult to control costs, optimize performance, and keep up with evolving energy requirements. 

Submetering helps address that gap by giving building teams more detailed insight into where, when, and how energy is being used.

Why Is Limited Visibility into Energy Use a Challenge?

Without detailed energy data, teams often lack answers to key questions:

• What’s driving peak demand

• Where is energy being wasted

• How should costs be fairly allocated

These gaps can lead to inefficiencies, higher costs, and missed savings opportunities.

How Does Submetering Improve Visibility and Building Performance?

Submetering breaks energy use into smaller, more usable data points. This makes it easier to understand where energy is going and how it can be managed more effectively.

In practice, that visibility supports day-to-day operations, long-term cost control, and more accurate reporting:

Reduce Energy Costs

• Identify peak demand drivers

• Pinpoint inefficient equipment

• Reduce unnecessary consumption

Improve Operational Performance

• Monitor HVAC, lighting, and major loads separately

• Compare performance across floors or zones

• Align systems with occupancy and demand

Support Accurate Cost Allocation

• Track usage by system or tenant

• Replace estimates with actual data

• Provide clearer reporting and reduce disputes

Why It’s No Longer Optional

Energy management is no longer limited to reducing costs. It is increasingly tied to:

• Building performance expectations

• Sustainability goals

• Tenant experience

• Evolving energy codes and standards

As these expectations grow, detailed energy visibility is becoming a necessary part of building operations.

Where Can Submetering Be Applied?

Submetering can be applied across different applications:

• Industrial facilities can track energy tied to production and equipment

• Commercial buildings can separate energy usage across systems, floors, and departments

• Multi-tenant and multi-family spaces can measure energy usage by occupants for more accurate billing 

Across applications, the outcome is consistent: a clearer understanding of how energy is used.

Submetering in Practice

From tenant billing to energy monitoring, VerifEye is designed to support this shift by providing:

• Scalable systems for any building type

• Seamless integration with existing infrastructure

• Real-time data that drives faster, smarter decisions

These capabilities support ongoing monitoring and more informed decision-making.

Learn More

Better data → better decisions → better outcomes. 

👉 Read the white paper, Energy Submetering for Cost Control, Transparency, and Sustainable Operations 

👉 Visit www.leviton.com/verifeye to explore submetering solutions