Minimising the quantities consumed
The conventional view is that you can only reduce the quantity consumed
by investing in physical modifications to plant, systems, buildings and
vehicles, with a view to improving their
underlying efficiency.
But experienced energy managers will tell you that you also need to
minimise the risk of avoidable excess consumption
which can arise at any time for various reasons, some
foreseeable but others quite
unexpected. These effects impose what is
often a hidden excess cost burden on the enterprise, but
avoiding these costs is usually quick, easy, and cheap.
A really comprehensive attack on the question of quantity-reduction
will also include two issues of management policy: developing
standards and guidance for design
and operation of systems, buildings
and vehicles.
Elements of the utility management process
Top-level objectives