A system and approach for monitoring and controlling energy consumption. The system may incorporate one or more devices configured on a floor map, a monitor that detects energy consumption by each of the one or more devices, a heat map shown on the floor map, a processor, and a user interface having a display connected to the processor. The heat map may indicate energy consumption in various areas of the floor plan. The floor map with the heat map may be a screen showable on the display. The energy consumption by each of the one or more devices from the monitor may be calculated by the processor in terms of time that each device is active and in terms of a power rating of the respective device. The energy consumption by each of the one or more devices may be converted by the processor into cost. From a screen, a user may define a virtual and dynamic zone to optimize and control the energy consumption with duration to apply the changes.