Best Practice Guide

Local Governments

Introduction

Planning an Energy Program

Energy Profiles

Energy Audits

Certification Programs

Assessing Energy Performance

First Steps

Funding and Approval

Education

Lighting

Central HVAC System

Procurement Policy

Building Envelope

Demand Response

Distributed Generation

Water Use

Motors

Food Service

Resources and Appendices

Lessons Learned


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View the Glossary

Planning an Energy Program

Energy Profiles

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An energy profile provides the basic building block of information needed to begin evaluating a property's potential for energy savings. This information also helps determine baseline energy performance and can be used to benchmark a building's performance against comparable properties.

Basic components of an energy profile include:

  • Annual energy use and cost, as given in utility bills from the previous year.
  • Year of construction.
  • General location (for climatic information).
  • Total floor space, given in square feet and number of floors.
  • Facility type(s), e.g., school, retail center, office building.

An energy accounting system records information from the energy profile over time. An accounting system is generally kept in a simple spreadsheet or tracked through computer software. Buildings equipped with an energy management system may be able to use this to automatically generate real-time information for an energy accounting system. Once ECMs or EEMs have been installed, this historical record enables energy mangers to later measure program results against baseline performance. It can also indicate when problems arise, such as through abnormally high energy costs related to equipment failure.

Added components of an energy accounting system may include:

  • Monthly or more frequent energy-use and cost reports.
  • Weather.
  • Changes in occupancy or facility usage.
  • Utility rate schedules.
  • Performance tracking of major equipment systems.

Quick Facts

Timing Energy Saving Opportunities
There are several telltale signs that indicate an energy saving upgrade is in order. Employees might complain of flickering fluorescent lights that hum loudly or poor indoor air quality with excessive humidity or chemical odors. Facility managers might notice an unusual jump in utility bills unrelated to rate increases or be frustrated by equipment that continually malfunctions despite regular operations and maintenance. Or, a simple walk-through might reveal uncomfortable drafts in interior spaces or condensation around windows and doors.

Even if problems are not easily discernible, management can use building maintenance schedules as an opportunity to replace aging equipment with more energy-efficient models. For others, an unrelated decision to remodel or renovate building space, perhaps due to change in use, could provide an opportunity to increase energy efficiency at little or no additional cost.


Resources

California Energy Commission, Handbooks for Energy Efficiency, "Energy Accounting: A Key Tool in Managing Energy Costs. "

U.S. EPA, ENERGY STAR, Portfolio Manager, an online energy tracking and benchmarking tool.

U.S. DOE, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Energy Software Tools Directory.