As companies weather changing energy demands and costs, many of their futures will be determined by how they meet the challenges to become more efficient and productive. A successful company must have an energy management program to consistently take advantage of as many conservation opportunities as possible. Several basic steps are required to develop an effective resource management program.

-Management Commitment

-Data Analysis

-Analysis of Conservation Opportunities

-Implementation of Conservation Techniques

-Continued feedback and Analysis

The resource management program must have the commitment of management for it to produce a long term increase in energy efficiency. A brief, early show of support will only result in small, temporary improvements. Management must design the conservation program as part of its regular, overall company management system. Also, energy costs and the consequence of future energy shortages should be widely disseminated to create an overall energy awareness.

Accounting for energy and its cost is an essential component of any energy management program. It can best be done by keeping up-to-date bar graphs of energy consumption and associated costs on a monthly basis. When the utility bills are received each month it is recommended that the energy use be plotted immediately on bar graphs. A graph will be required for each type of energy used. The value of the bar graphs can best be understood by examining the EXAMPLES (these include natural gas and oil plots, electrcity, electric demand, and other energy sources can be exhibited the same way).  It is simple to detect trends and anomalies from these graphs, and much easier to assess the value of energy conserving actions.

Data analysis will be greatly aided if the records use a standard format for all the company's divisions and if the different energy units (such as kilowatt-hours of electricity, gallons of oil, etc.) are converted to a common energy unit, such as the British Thermal Unit (Btu). One Btu is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. By comparing the cost of various fuels on the basis of cost per million Btu's ($/MMBtu), the true cost of each fuel can be determined. The following URL provides a unit conversion chart for aiding in the input of data.