In this article, you're going to learn what Categories are and the key concepts you need to know before configuring and analysing them.

Contents of this article:

• Introduction
• What changes from Reference Devices?
• Source, Category and Subcategory
• Still need help?

Introduction

Categories let you organise and analyse your readings by what they measure (for example, HVAC or Lighting consumption) instead of by the physical device that measures them.

For example, with Categories you can analyse in just a few clicks the HVAC active energy consumption of all your European locations tagged as Hospitals.

With Categories you can:

• Work in the same way at any level of your location hierarchy, from a single sublocation to your whole portfolio.

• Break down a consumption into Subcategories (HVAC, Lighting, Refrigeration...) or into individual devices (Partials).

• See automatically the part of the consumption that is not covered by your breakdown (Remainder).

• Analyse parameters beyond energy, such as setpoint temperature.
• Cover both simple consumption setups and advanced installations with photovoltaic generation or batteries.

What changes from Reference Devices?

Categories replace the previous Reference Devices model.

Your existing Reference Device configurations keep working during the transition. However, Partials, Remainders and the new calculation methods are only available with Categories.

Note: Partials cover many cases that previously required Groups. Groups are not migrated automatically to Categories; you can migrate them manually or with the in-bulk Excel file.

Source, Category and Subcategory

Categories follow this structure: Source > Category > Subcategory. For example:

Categories and Subcategories are defined by Spacewell, so they are the same in all your locations. 

Total

Each Category or Subcategory has one Total: the reading of that Category for the selected location, parameter and operations.

Note: "Total" is the name of its role, not a calculation. For energy, the Total is usually a sum. For a setpoint temperature, the Total can be an average.

The Total can come from a device, from your child locations, from its Subcategories or Partials, or from an energy balance. Learn how in Categories - Configure Categories in your locations.

Breakdowns: Subcategories and Partials

You can break down a Total in two independent ways:

• Subcategories: break down a Category by use. For example, Consumption into HVAC, Lighting and Refrigeration. Each Subcategory has its own Total, and can also have its own Partials.

• Partials: the individual devices or circuits that measure part of a Category or Subcategory. For example, three HVAC meters as Partials of HVAC:
  • HVAC Total
  • HVAC device 1 — Partial
  • HVAC device 2 — Partial HVAC device 3 — Partial
  • Remainder

Important: both breakdowns can measure the same consumption. Never add all Partials and all Subcategories together, or you will count part of the consumption twice.

Remainder

The Remainder is the part of the Total that your breakdown does not cover. The platform calculates it automatically, so you don't need to assign a device to it.

• Partials Remainder = Total − sum of the Partials
• Subcategories Remainder = Total − sum of the Subcategory Totals

Your breakdown doesn't need to cover 100% of the Total: the Remainder shows you what is left.

Example: your Consumption Total is 284 MWh and you have three Subcategories:

Note: the Remainder is only calculated with the Sum operation. It is not available with Average, Maximum or Minimum.

Tip: if a Total is calculated by adding up its own Partials (or its own Subcategories), the corresponding Remainder will always be zero.

Still need help? 

Contact our Support team by the Form or via email as support.energy@spacewell.com.