Chapter 2 Key Aspects of Energy Management
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uccessful energy management for a Caribbean water company involves applying the following basic management principles to the energy efficiency field:
1. Administration – effectively administer EEPs and projects. 2. Financing – create short, medium, and long-term financial strategies for energy saving measures and for a quick payback of the investment. 3. Operation – constantly seek better and more efficient ways to deliver low-cost water distribution service to the population; and 4. Revenue – manage the incomes from water sales in order to improve energy efficiency and simultaneously increase profits. The final objective of energy management should be to improve the balance sheet through structured efforts. It is essential to mobilize human resources to achieve these results with a real plan for follow-up. The first step for energy management is for the WSC to make a real commitment to energy efficiency. To do so, all areas of the water company must be involved in effecting a behavioral change. Figure 2 shows how the three major components of a WSC must be interrelated to support this commitment. Regardless of the its size, the WSC must commit to allocate necessary staff and funding to achieve continuous improvement. The first key step after making this commitment is to establish an energy efficiency committee. 2.1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMMITTEE The energy efficiency committee should consist of a head staff person, known as the energy champion, and operations staff. Appointing an energy champion is a critical component of a successful EEP. He or she sets goals, tracks progress, and promotes the energy management program by establishing energy performance as a core value. The energy champion is not always an expert in energy and technical systems; however, to be successful, he or she must understand how energy management helps the WSC achieve its financial and environmental goals and objectives. Depending on the size of the WSC, this
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Figure 2: Diagram of a Successful Energy Efficiency Management Plan Or ga ch nizat an ion ge al Success
Behavioral change