Monitoring and Targeting

by Vilnis Vesma

Monitoring and targeting (M&T) is a cost-saving management technique, designed to detect and diagnose wasteful use of energy, water, and other consumable resources (view examples). Although there are alternative definitions, for present purposes we are concerned with techniques based on these ideas:

that consumption volumes are related to measurable driving factors (weather, levels of production output, and so on).
that knowing the driving-factor values it is possible to estimate a target (in the sense of an expected quantity) for each "stream" of consumption (Click here for more on target-setting)
that the onset of waste is signalled by an unexpected discrepancy between actual and epected consumption
that underlying waste may be exposed by the relationship between consumption and its driver(s) being in some way anomalous

Applying M&T

You can operate M&T in one of two ways. One approach is the one-off campaign, looking for anomalous patterns of consumption. This puts the emphasis on targeting and is the method usually employed by consultants, although end users with an analytical approach to their work would find this a successful approach.

The other approach is more in the nature of a continual policing action, with a regular review of performance Here the emphasis is on monitoring to detect exceptions which signal the onset of unexpected excess consumption..

A balanced approach to M&T combines the "campaign" and "policing" styles of implementation. Click here to look in more depth at implementing M&T; click here to see a few examples of users

Useful links:
Glossary
Self-assessment quiz
Degree days

I would like to thank the members of the Institute of Energy's Special Interest Group on Monitoring and Targeting (MTSIG) for their criticisms and contributions to this Guide

Vilnis Vesma
December, 2002