Best Practice Guide

Food and Beverage Growers and Processors

Introduction

Planning an Energy Program

Getting Started

Assessing Energy Performance

Energy Audits

Energy Policy

Energy Teams

Energy Action Plan

Measurement and Verification

Certification Programs

Funding and Approval

Commissioning

On-the-Farm Energy Use

Lighting

Building Envelope

Central HVAC System

Boilers

Steam

Combined Heat and Power

Compressed Air

Refrigeration

Motors

Demand Response

Distributed Generation

Water Use


Fetzer Vineyard

J Vineyards and Winery

Mission Foods

S. Martinelli and Company

Sara Lee

Vineyard 29


View the Glossary

Planning an Energy Program

Energy Action Plan

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Once an energy policy has been adopted, craft an action plan that allows the company to achieve its energy goals and objectives. The energy action plan will be a roadmap for continuous improvement, providing concrete steps for moving forward.

Typically an energy action plan is created after an energy audit has identified areas of potential improvement. Most energy audits include recommendations about the benefits and timing of potential energy projects; these will need to be evaluated by company decision makers to determine which projects fit internal investment criteria. The energy team can then assign specific tasks to its members, both in-house and outside consultants. If critical actions are being carried out by consultants, then the energy team should design a measurement and verification (M&V) plan for evaluating results.

Regular meetings of the energy team help to assess progress and keep focus on action items. Depending on the scope of the energy program and the size of the company, it may make sense to create incremental performance targets for specific facilities or departments to ensure that each unit of the company is making adequate progress.

Let employees, tenants and customers know about the energy policy and action plan and ask for their help in achieving goals. Raising awareness and encouraging behavioral change can have a major impact on energy savings in addition to reflecting well on the company's reputation.


Resources

ENERGY STAR'S Guidelines for Energy Management, Create Action Plan.