What is one key function of an energy management system?

An energy management system (EMS) is primarily designed to optimize energy consumption and enhance operational efficiency within a facility or organization. This involves analyzing energy usage patterns, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies to reduce waste and costs while maintaining or increasing production and quality levels.

By using data analytics, real-time monitoring, and automation, an EMS can provide insights into energy use and facilitate smarter decision-making regarding energy usage, which leads to overall better energy management. This optimization can involve shifting loads to off-peak times, using renewable energy sources more effectively, and implementing energy-saving technologies, thereby making the system not just a monitor but an active participant in managing energy resources efficiently.

The other options do not capture the primary function of an EMS as effectively. Manual control of energy devices lacks the automation and analysis components, user satisfaction monitoring is peripheral and not a central function of an EMS, and developing hardware, while potentially a task related to energy resources, does not reflect the system's role in managing and optimizing energy use effectively.