The Superior Energy Program, a standardized approach to identifying, developing, measuring and reporting on energy efficiency improvements, was conceived by energy managers at several industrial plants in Texas who, having noted the success of their safety programs, recognized the potential for increasing energy performance. Goals of the program include achieving energy savings, identifying more effective ways to manage energy performance, and fostering a culture of energy efficiency at industrial plants.

The voluntary plant certification program currently is being tested through a pilot project in Texas that is expected to conclude this month. Energy experts are testing proposed ANSI energy management system standards and will monitor and verify energy savings. The program, while in its infancy, is expected to help reduce the energy intensity of U.S. manufacturing plants by 25 percent in 10 years.

According to the Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program, benefits of the program include:
  • A framework to reduce energy use by following ANSI Management System for Energy (MSE) 2000-2008 and, eventually, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001 energy management, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) system assessment standards.
  • Measurement and verification (M&V) tools and resources that help to validate energy savings.
  • A flexible program that recognizes that plants will have varying levels of energy program maturity as well as need for outside verification of savings.
To encourage participation, the Superior Energy Performance offers three levels of involvement (participant, partner or certified partner), depending on the degree of data validation desired by a plant. To qualify for the program, plants must conform to the ANSI/MSE 2000-2008 (until development of ISO 50001) energy management standard and meet the program’s energy intensity targets. Plants will need to re-certify every three years, based on their energy intensity performance and management system conformance, according to the DOE.

For more information about the program and the energy management standards, visit www.eere.energy.gov/industry.

Linda Becker, Associate Publisher and Editor, BeckerL@bnpmedia.com

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