Conducting an energy efficiency assessment can help business owners understand how energy is used, identify where usage practices and equipment can be improved and to reduce energy costs. The extent and nature of the assessment will depend on the size of the business but there are a general set of steps that should be followed as outlined below.
Planning
A project plan should be developed that sets out the objectives and scope of the effort that includes:
• Activities to be performed
• Who will be involved
• Technical and financial resources used
• Potential risks and how to minimize them
• What deliverables will be produced
The plan should also specify what actions should be taken after the assessment including providing a report for tracking and reviewing any improvements made
Engage Staff and/or Experts
It is important to engage employees at all levels of the business since they will have the best knowledge of where savings can be made. Management stakeholders that have decision-making roles and the authority to make changes must also be involved since they are vital for implementing any improvements. In cases where the business has a large operation with matching expenditure and resources it may be worth engaging external expertise to advise on energy saving opportunities.
Gather Data
Gathering a wide range of data about energy use will contribute to understanding how it impacts core business functions and the relationships between energy and productivity. The process should start with high level data (such as invoices for energy costs) and progressively drill down to specific energy requirements and the processes that depend on them. energy efficiency assessment will provide opportunities for further data gathering until a complete picture is available of energy use.
Analyze the Results
A thorough analysis of the data gathered will yield insights into the reasons for energy consumption and how changes will impact efficiency and productivity. Graphs and statistics will provide a starting point for further investigation to provide an accurate understanding of energy use and the efficiency opportunities that exist.
Identify Opportunities and Implement Changes
The above processes will have identified areas where energy saving opportunities exist and these need to be distributed to a broad range of stakeholders in the business to see where and how improvements can be made to more efficient energy use. It is vital that a cross-section of people throughout the business are involved so that the feasibility of improvements can be assessed and to identify the opportunities are the most important to implement – that is, those that will result in the greatest improvements to energy efficiency with the least disruption and cost.
