| When it comes to energy efficiency, money is | | | | Better energy efficiency is a cost-effective way to |
| definitely the name of the game. This factor is what | | | | lower emission rates generated from burning fossil |
| makes energy efficiency and maintenance efforts pay | | | | fuels. This added benefit should be very clearly pointed |
| off. Information about costs is an important part of | | | | out in your energy management program. You may |
| reporting accomplishments to other people. When you | | | | determine that it is worthwhile for your organization to |
| are able to track costs, it reveals pricing trends and | | | | track the lower level of emissions achieved when |
| helps with cost projections necessary to prepare | | | | energy conservation practices are improved. When |
| budgets. | | | | management is supportive of using energy resources |
| These current and projected future prices of energy | | | | more efficiently, they are probably very |
| are then used as the basis for determining whether | | | | environmentally conscious. Your efforts to increase |
| potential energy efficiency policies will be cost | | | | energy efficiency will likely gain even more support if |
| effective. To give everyone in your organization a | | | | they can be documented and shared with others in |
| complete picture of the need for energy investment, | | | | your organization (and possibly the public). |
| any dollar savings figures you use should include actual | | | | Standard procedures for calculating lowered emissions |
| costs, as well as avoided ones. You will also want to | | | | levels for specific fuels are becoming more available. |
| give management some information about what the | | | | Contact the Environmental Protection Agency, your |
| dollars saved could be used for, such as buying or | | | | state energy or environmental office, or your utility to |
| updating equipment, adding more services, etc. | | | | learn more about making these types of calculations. |
| Benefits to the Environment | | | | |