Retrotec USACE - Manual (Page 27)

5
1
Energy Assessment as Part of
Energy Management
Energy management is a permanent process in an organization whose aim is to
optimize the amount of energy consumed in buildings and its processes. In prac-
tice, this most often means reducing current consumption through changes in op-
eration and maintenance or by making investments in retrofi ts and new technolo-
gies. Good energy management is based on information received from energy
assessments and begins with an understanding of how a building uses energy.
Most often, management and assessment activities cover a building portfolio that
consists of several buildings and possibly the energy production and distribution
infrastructures as well. The information and methods needed may vary respec-
tively, depending on the location at which the activities are carried out (Figure 2).
As with all kinds of management, the general rule for energy management is that,
in the beginning, the “big picture” (state of the art) should be understood before
proceeding to more detailed analyses on system and component levels.
1. Building stock
4. Component
3. System
2. Building
Less b
u
t r
ef
ined, general
Mor
e detailed and specif
ic
Amount and Type
of Information
Figure 2. Levels of energy management and assessment.
The time span of energy management strategies may vary as well, but both
short- and long-term perspectives can usually be distinguished (Figure 3):
In the short term, the existing building and its systems and equipment ■
should be used as effi ciently as possible to get the most out of money
invested and to minimize loads on the environment.