| What is the Need? Global warming, greenhouse | | | | business. For example electricity, natural gas, fuel |
| gases, carbon footprint....what's all this about? One | | | | oil, propane for fork truck, diesel for tractors, |
| critical factor is energy consumption. Thus | | | | employee commutes, etc. Determine the |
| conservation will improve environmental results | | | | amounts used such as gallons, Kilowatt Hours, and |
| while saving $$$$. In the mid-1970's there was an | | | | BTU/unit of use. Then translate that into a cost |
| oil embargo against the U.S. During those months | | | | BTU or cost/Unit for each category. |
| we all took conservation measures....not for | | | | Next, identify the major consumers, such as large |
| politically correct reasons, not for altruistic | | | | motors, HVAC, boilers, process units, etc. Now, |
| reasons, not to save the environment, not for | | | | you are ready to identify conservation measures |
| global warming...NO! It was to conserve electricity, | | | | for your business. Involve knowledgeable |
| natural gas and other resources so we'd have | | | | employees in all of these steps. This will allow you |
| enough to keep our homes warm, gasoline to | | | | to gain "buy-in" as well as prevent overlooking |
| drive our cars, and operate manufacturing facilities. | | | | key components or issues. |
| It was a serious issue. Our church actually voted | | | | Now, you are ready to establish an overall plan |
| to set the thermostats at 55º F and wear | | | | for conservation, waste reduction and $$$ |
| coats in winter. We car pooled instead of driving | | | | savings. Post the targets and action steps for all |
| our own cars to work everyday. The company I | | | | to see. In a retail operation, for example, we |
| worked for at the time instituted extreme | | | | suggested to one of our clients that they turn off |
| conservation measures just to insure that we | | | | the escalators at certain times of the day and |
| could keep operating. Yes, it was really like that. | | | | post the savings in terms of greenhouse gases |
| What happened? The truth is we failed to learn | | | | and BTU's for the customers to see. Of course, |
| the lessons. When supplies became readily | | | | they were saving $$$ money and that could also |
| available, we went back to our old habits. Now a | | | | be posted in some cases. Visibility and participation |
| few decades later the problem is once again | | | | are keys to success. |
| before us. Only this time in environmental issues | | | | What about environmental concerns today? |
| and high costs more than simply just an availability | | | | - The item du jour- Global Warming |
| issue. Utility costs are significant for families and | | | | - Greenhouse gases, primarily CO2 |
| businesses. Resource utilization and waste are not | | | | - Global climate change |
| only cost issues, but also are environmental issues | | | | - Acid rain |
| today. So, "going green" can save "green $$$." | | | | - Ozone depletion |
| Why a Process Approach to this issue? A process | | | | - Total environmental impacts |
| is "any set of events working together to | | | | While these are not equally relevant to all |
| produce an outcome." A process has inputs and | | | | businesses, surely you can already see the |
| outputs. Energy Management is just another | | | | implications of reducing environmental impacts by |
| process to consider. There are at least three | | | | reducing natural resource consumption. One |
| factors that must be considered: 1. Economics 2. | | | | measure that is gaining prominence today is the |
| Environment 3. Regulatory Issues | | | | "carbon footprint" which can be readily determined |
| The economics make it relevant to all businesses: | | | | from your utility bills and resource use. In another |
| - Research shows that companies generally can | | | | article we will briefly summarize how to determine |
| save 5-15% on costs rather quickly by | | | | your carbon footprint. There are many so-called |
| implementing an energy management | | | | "calculators" on the Internet, but not all are based |
| process.(Source: Guide to Energy Management, | | | | on sound principals and conversion factors. So, be |
| Capehart, Turner and Kennedy, CRC Press, 5th | | | | careful if you just get on the Internet and |
| edition, page 3.) | | | | calculate a number without understanding the |
| - Eventual savings of >30% are usually | | | | basis and how to interpret the result. |
| obtained when comprehensive conservation plans | | | | A process approach to this significant business |
| are implemented | | | | and environmental issue can save money and |
| So, how do we take a process approach? Simply | | | | improve the environment. So, management needs |
| begin by identifying all of the inputs and outputs. | | | | to lead the effort. It just makes economic and |
| Then list all the resource requirements for your | | | | business sense. |