Planning an energy management program requires you to evaluate your building’s energized and nonenergized systems. Identifying energy waste by means of an energy use index (EUI) is the first step in this process. The EUI measures in British thermal units (Btu) how much energy a building consumes per gross conditioned square foot per period of time, usually a year.
Once you determine the EUI for your building, your next step is to put together a team that will be responsible for overseeing the energy management program. The make-up of the energy management team is important. You should consider including the following people:
- At least one manager is needed, preferably someone with authorization to implement new operating policies. This person should communicate any management concerns as well as obtain the cooperation of the building owner and other managers.
- At least one representative from operations and maintenance, such as a chief operating engineer, is needed. This person should communicate how to implement various energy management options. This person should also schedule and coordinate the work of other operations and maintenance employees who may need instruction, guidance, and monitoring after the energy management program is implemented.
- The team should include several people who represent the building occupants. These people can help determine the types of changes that are needed as well as make it easier to gain the cooperation of other building occupants. The building owner may want to provide financial incentives to occupants who help reduce energy costs.
Once the team is formed, team members should develop an energy management plan. The plan should address the specific steps the team will take in developing and implementing the energy management program as well as how often the group will meet. In most cases, the team should meet at least once a month until a program gets well underway.
The more detailed the energy management plan, the better it is likely to be. A detailed plan can help you in identifying and circumventing potential problems. The following steps are necessary in developing an energy management plan:
- Conduct an energy survey
- Prioritize EMOs
- Establish a preliminary schedule
- Set a budget and identify goals
- Implement the plan
In your development of an energy management plan, keep in mind that energy-saving factors and systems serve as alternate energy sources such as solar energy systems, solar heating systems, photovoltaic systems, and geothermal heat pumps can serve as helpful devices to bolster your efforts.
Solar energy systems use energy from the sun to heat water, heat air, or generate electricity. Solar heating systems can be used to supply a building’s space heating or solar water heating (SWH) needs. Systems are either active or passive. Active solar heating systems capture and store heat from the sun by using pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and other types of auxiliary equipment. Passive solar heating systems capture and store heat from the sun automatically and require little or no auxiliary equipment.
A photovoltaic system is the process by which light energy is converted into electrical energy. Photovoltaic cells, usually made from silicon-based materials, convert the photon energy of the sun’s rays into electricity. An example of this is the cells you find in solar calculators.
Geothermal heat pumps can be used for both heating and cooling applications. For heating applications, they extract heat from the ground or groundwater and transfer it to a building’s interior for space, service water, feedwater, or process heating. For cooling applications, they extract heat from a building’s interior and transfer it outdoors to the ground or groundwater. Most geothermal heat pumps are residential, but commercial use is increasing.
Finally, keep in mind as you implement alternative energy management systems that it is important to be familiar with the phase-out schedule for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs). Systems as varied as heat pumps, reciprocating air conditioning units, and centrifugal air conditioning units contain refrigerants that have proven harmful to the earth’s atmosphere. As a facilities professional concerned with implementing energy management programs, you will eventually need to address these issues of refrigerant management. Safe-handling and disposal records will no doubt become a part of your energy management programs.
As technology advances and offers new systems’ efficiencies, you must continually adapt and embrace these new opportunities for energy management. By keeping yourself informed on innovations and making knowledgeable recommendations regarding effective change, you will help guarantee your continued success as marketable, highly skilled facilities professionals.