Establishing Effective Industrial Energy Performance Improvement Targets

The recent publication of ISO 50001- energy management system standard has focused the attention of both industry leaders and policymakers on the role of targets in driving continual energy performance improvement. Industrial companies develop targets to reduce their production costs and energy/carbon footprint in addition to comply with regulations/mandates. Governments, trade alliances, and other non-government organizations external to an industrial company utilize targets as a means to improve industrial energy performance and achieve wider sustainability goals. There are differences in the drivers and criteria behind the derivation of internal or external targets which may create barriers to effective collaboration between industry and the external organizations seeking to improve energy performance.
 

This paper investigates the drivers behind the establishment of energy performance improvement targets set by industrial companies and organizations external to industrial companies. Sources for this investigation include industrial energy manager interviews, company annual reports, and national target setting programs. The investigation results in a series of findings detailing a set of questions and processes to consider when developing energy performance improvement targets. Industrial energy managers and energy policy makers alike can use these indicators to develop targets that are achievable and reasonable.