Home Energy Management Plan

"It's Time to Take Action and Make a Commitment"
Adapted from U.S. EPA Energy Star Strategy Program

STEP ONE:  Make a Commitment to Continuous Improvement

In order to effectively change the energy performance of Your home and attain financial returns, the household members must regularly assess energy performance and implement steps to increase energy efficiency!

So, how do you get started?  Decide to commit time and resources and form an Energy Team (ET) and develop a Home Business Energy Management Plan (EP).

1.1. Form the Team:  Spouse, children, occupants of the home are responsible to execute the team developed activities to ensure integration of "best practices".

1.2. Appoint an Energy Director (ED):  Main duty is to conduct regular monthly meeting, set goals, track progress, and promote the Home Business Energy Plan.

1.3. Development an Energy Plan (EP):  The plan will use and purchase energy in the most cost effective, cost efficient and environmentally responsible manner possible.

1.4.  Institute an Energy Plan (EP):  The ED sets performance goals and milestones.

STEP TWO:  Assess Performance

Before you begin to plan a future energy strategy you must know where you've been!  Do this by understanding past and current energy use.  Open your files and get out the bills for the entire household.  It's worth the time and effort to organize and gain insight into the business aspects of a home.  Remember, your home is no different then a business!  There are many related costs and items that need to be reviewed and assessed!  What this does is helps to establish a baseline for measuring future results of your efficiency efforts.

2.1.  Establish a regular, monthly meeting date in order for the Team to come together and prepare items requested by the ED.  Prepare a simple agenda and email to all tam members.  In today's world, we all have an email address, right?

2.2.  Gather and track data:  Collect energy use information and data that will help establish the beginning stages of what needs to be included into the EP.  Also, attend seminars and training sessions that will assist the Team in learning about ERT's.  Remember, this is going to be a "five year or less" energy plan.

2.3.  Establish Baselines:  In your first meeting, determine the starting point from which to measure that Team's Energy Plan.

2.4.  Benchmark:  You may want to develop a rating system that compares your home against similar sized homes.  For example; a "best practice" qualitative comparison of "Green Homes" by the EPA.  Or there are other organizations that track and provide details of a "Green Home".

EPA recognizes homes with superior performance, such as ZEH (zero energy home) that have earned the ENERGY STAR rating of energy efficiency without compromising comfort or services.

2.5. Analyze: Now is the time to sit down and openly discuss and identify the energy use patterns and trends of ALL occupants.  What are the habits and attitudes that need to be addressed that affect the bottom line energy performance of the home.  What should and could be done to begin the process of change to improve the homes energy use!  Make a list, identify patterns, methods and strategies for improvement.

2.6.  Technical Assessment and Audits:  Make a list of Your home's mechanical systems: HVAC, Hot Water System, Dishwasher, Compactor, Pool/Spa, Water Filtration Systems. etc.  Inspect and list all items.

The purpose of this task is to assist in evaluating the operating performance of the systems and equipment to determine whether or not to maintain, replace or upgrade the item. 

This is especially true of older appliances that are NOT Energy Star rated!

STEP THREE:  Set Goals

Performance goals drive energy management activities and promote continuous improvement.  Setting clear and measurable goals is critical for understanding intended results, developing effective strategies, and reaping financial gains.

Goals must be well-stated to help guide daily decision-making and are the basis for tracking and measuring progress.  Communicating and posting goals on the refrigerator or announcement board can motivate the Team to read, review and take action for the energy management efforts required for the home.

The ED and Team members develop the goals!

3.1.  Determine Scope of the Plan:  The scope of the performance goals can include multiple levels of the home as well as various time periods for completion of the specific goals.

Such as, the Team energy uses!  The can be divided into various categories, for example; who takes the longest shower? Who watches the most TV, uses the computer the most, the most clothes to wash and so on.  Discuss these patterns and list the particulars of the activity in order to gain better insight.

Once a goal is clear and specific an appropriate and realistic target date is established to ensure the goals will be meaningful and promote change.

Short and long range goals need to be developed.

3.2.  Estimate Potential for Improvement:  To set goals, it is important to have an informed idea of what level of performance is achievable and the amount of resources and money needed.

3.3.  Establish Goals:  Energy performance goals should be established as a mission for the whole "Team".

Goal areas to consider:  Defined reduction in therms of a specific quantity or percentage decrease in energy use, such as "all showers will be no more than 5 minutes in length".

Efficiency Improvement goals are expressed as a function of reducing energy intensity, such as reducing the total BTU use of the hot water heater.

Threshold goals state the minimum acceptable level.

Stretch goals go beyond the minimum or targets that are used to create an incentive for greater achievement.

STEP FOUR:  Create and Action Plan

Now is the time to develop the road-map to improve Your home energy performance.

Use a detailed action plan to ensure a systematic process to implement energy performance measures.  This Action Plan needs to regularly be updated, most often on a six-month basis, to reflect recent achievements, changes in performance and shifting priorities due to economic market activities.

4.1.  Define Technical Steps and Targets:  Identify gaps between current performance and goals, by reviewing the results of the technical assessments and audits or progress evaluations.

4.2.  Determine Roles and Resources:  Work with Your Team to communicate the details of the Action Plan and make sure that everyone buys-in to the plan.

STEP FIVE:  Implement Action Plan

The Team Members can make or break an energy plan.  Gaining support and cooperation is an important factor for successful action plan implementation.

5.1.  Create a Communication Plan

5.2.  Raise Awareness

5.3.  Build Capacity

5.4.  Motivate

5.5.  Track and Monitor

STEP SIX:  Evaluate Your Progress

Evaluating progress includes formal review of both energy use data and the activities carried out as part of the Action Plan as compared to your performance goals.

6.1.  Measure Results

6.2.  Review Action Plan

STEP SEVEN:  Recognize Achievements/Milestones

Providing and seeking recognition for energy management achievements is a proven step for sustaining momentum and support for your home energy plan.

7.1.  Provide individual, team and whole home achievement awards

7.2.  Receive external recognition by informing various local agencies, the media and other third party organizations who would like to know what you accomplished and the actual results.

If anyone would like this as a PDF version please send me a message with your email address and I will be sure to forward it along.