How do you create an energy management policy?

1 Assess your current situation

Before you can set your energy management objectives, you need to understand your current energy performance and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can do this by conducting an energy audit, which is a systematic analysis of your energy use, costs, and opportunities for improvement. An energy audit can help you measure your energy baseline, benchmark your performance against industry standards, and prioritize your energy saving measures.

2 Define your scope and boundaries

Your energy management policy should clearly state the scope and boundaries of your energy management system, which are the organizational and operational units, processes, and activities that are covered by your policy. You should also define the roles and responsibilities of the people involved in implementing and maintaining your policy, such as senior management, energy managers, staff, and contractors. By defining your scope and boundaries, you can ensure that your policy is aligned with your organizational structure and culture, and that everyone knows their expectations and accountabilities.

3 Set your goals and targets

Your energy management policy should also include your goals and targets for reducing your energy consumption and improving your energy efficiency. Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, and reflect your organizational vision and values. Your targets should be quantifiable and verifiable indicators that show your progress towards your goals. For example, you can set a goal to reduce your carbon footprint by 20% by 2025, and a target to reduce your electricity use by 10% per year.

4 Develop your action plan

To achieve your goals and targets, you need to develop an action plan that outlines the steps, resources, and timelines for implementing your energy saving measures. Your action plan should be based on the results of your energy audit and the priorities of your organization. You should also consider the technical, financial, and behavioral aspects of your energy saving measures, and how they will affect your operations, customers, and stakeholders. Your action plan should be realistic, flexible, and adaptable to changing circumstances.

5 Communicate and document your policy

Once you have created your energy management policy, you need to communicate it to your internal and external audiences, and document it in a clear and accessible format. You should use various channels and methods to communicate your policy, such as newsletters, posters, meetings, training sessions, and social media. You should also document your policy in a written or electronic form, and make it available to your staff, customers, suppliers, regulators, and other interested parties. By communicating and documenting your policy, you can raise awareness, generate support, and demonstrate your commitment to energy management.

6 Monitor and review your policy

Your energy management policy is not a static document, but a dynamic and evolving one that requires regular monitoring and review. You should establish a system to measure, record, and report your energy performance and compare it with your goals and targets. You should also conduct periodic audits, evaluations, and feedback sessions to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of your policy and your energy saving measures. By monitoring and reviewing your policy, you can identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement, and update your policy accordingly.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?