Vitron Energy Group Corp
Improving
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Establish an Energy Team
Energy accountability
Reduce Energy Cost
Decisions affecting energy use are made every day by people. Creating an energy team helps to integrate energy management.
In addition to planning and implementing specific improvements, the team measures and tracks energy performance and communicates with management, employees and other stakeholders.
The size of the energy team will vary depending on the size of your organization. In addition to the Energy Director who leads the team and possible dedicated energy staff, consider including a representative from each operational area that significantly affects energy use, such as:
• Engineering
• Purchasing
• Operations and Maintenance
• Building/Facilities Management
• Environmental Health and Safety
• Corporate Real Estate and Leasing
• Construction Management
• Contractors and Suppliers
• Utilities
Institute an Energy Policy
An Energy Policy provides the foundation for successful energy management. It formalizes senior management’s support and articulates the organization’s commitment to energy efficiency for employees, shareholders, the community and other stakeholders.
Based on the experience of ENERGY STAR partners, successful organizations have energy policies that:
• State an objective — Have a clear, measurable objective that reflects the organization’s
commitment, culture and priorities.
• Establish accountability — Institute a chain-of-command, define roles in the organization, and provide the authority for personnel to implement the energy management plan.
• Ensure continuous improvement — Include provisions for evaluating and updating the policy to reflect changing needs and priorities.
• Promote goals — Provide a context for setting performance goals by linking
energy goals to overall financial and environmental goals of the organization.
Suggestions
• Have the CEO or head of the organization officially issue the policy.
• Involve key people in policy development to ensure buy-in.
• Tailor the policy to the organization’s culture.
• Make it understandable to employees and public alike.
• Consider the skills and abilities of management and employees.
• Include detail that covers day-to-day operations.
• Communicate the policy to all staff and employees, and encourage them to get involved.
• Consider partnering with ENERGY STAR as a basis for your energy policy.
Assess Performance
eNERGY dATA mANAGEMENT
Understanding current and past energy use is how many organizations identify opportunities to improve energy performance and gain financial benefits.
Assessing performance is the periodic process of evaluating energy use for all major facilities and functions in the organization and establishing a baseline for measuring future results of efficiency efforts.
Key aspects include:
Data Collection and Management Gather and track data — Collect energy use information and document data over time.
Baselining and Benchmarking
Establish baselines — Determine the starting point from which to measure progress.
Benchmark — Compare the energy performance of your facilities to each other, peers and competitors, and over time to prioritize which facilities to focus on for improvements.
Analysis and Evaluation
Analyze — Understand your energy use patterns and trends.
Technical assessments and audits — Evaluate the operating performance of facility systems and equipment to determine improvement potential.
Assessing your energy performance helps you to:
Categorize current energy use by fuel type, operating division, facility, product line, etc.
Identify high performing facilities for recognition and replicable practices.
Prioritize poor performing facilities for immediate improvement.
Understand the contribution of energy expenditures to operating costs.
Develop a historical perspective and context for future actions and decisions.
Establish reference points for measuring and rewarding good performance.