Course: GFM 102 Technical Aspects of Energy, Resources & Conservation

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Developing A Benchmarking Plan

Create a Benchmarking Plan Through Baseline Profiling and Performance Indicators

Businesses are reducing their energy use by 30 percent or more through effective energy management practices that involve assessing energy performance, setting energy savings goals, and regular evaluating progress. Building-level energy performance benchmarking is an integral part of this effort. It provides the reference points necessary for developing sound energy management practices and strategies, and for gauging their effectiveness.

Energy use benchmarking is a process that either compares the energy use of a building or group of buildings with other similar structures or looks to how energy use varies from a baseline. It is a critical step in any building upgrade project, because it informs organizations about how and where they use energy and what factors drive their energy use. Benchmarking enables energy managers to determine the key metrics for assessing performance, to establish baselines, and to set goals for energy performance. It also helps them identify building upgrade opportunities that can increase profitability by lowering energy and operating costs, and it facilitates continuous improvement by providing diagnostic measures to evaluate performance over time.

Setting Goals, Resources, Data Requirements, Sub-metering, and Partnerships

Set Goals – Setting goals for the project will help determine what type of benchmark will be most useful.

Define the Scope and Identify a Benchmark – Based on defined goals and scope, it is possible to to identify a specific benchmark.

Resources – A number of Industry Benchmarking Tools (Healthcare Energy Guidebook, The Exchange Report, Benchmarking Services, and automated benchmarking tools) are available to help companies with their benchmarking programs in additions to those available from the ENERGY STAR Program.

Develop Data Requirements – Energy use, energy cost information, physical and design information, output or utilization data, production data, financial data, climate variables, and economic variables are assembled as input parameters.

Engage Partners – An effective partnership requires that the partners understand the objectives, expected outcoes, and schedule of the benchmarking project, and know their role and the costs and benefits of participation.