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STEP 3.3: Establish Goals

Once the potential for improvement has been estimated, goals can be established at the appropriate organizational levels. Energy performance goals should be formally established and recognized by senior management as a mission for the whole organization.

Estimating potential for improvement should provide you with a starting point for what is possible. However, some organizations set their final energy performance goals based on organizational factors other than what is technically feasible. Such factors will affect how energy performance goals are expressed.

Common ways for expressing goals include:

Defined reduction

Goals are presented in terms of a specific quantity or percentage decrease in energy use, such as a 10 percent reduction or a decrease of 300 million Btus.

Best-in-class

This goal aims for a certain level of performance compared to an established benchmark.

Efficiency improvement

Goals are expressed as a function of reducing the energy intensity of a specific performance indicator, such as 2 Btus per unit of product.

Environmental Improvement

This goal translates energy savings into pollution prevention or reduction goals.

Additionally, some organizations may find it useful to establish:

Threshold goals

The minimum acceptable level of performance.

Stretch goals

Levels beyond the minimum or targets that are used to create an incentive for greater achievement.

In Practice

Organizational Energy Goals

These energy performance goals have been set by leading ENERGY STAR Partners:

Dutchess Community College

35 percent energy use reduction from 1990 level by 2013.

Quad Graphics

Reduce energy consumption relative to output by 10 percent.

Food Lion

Reduce energy use by 300 million Btus in 2003. All new buildings must qualify for ENERGY STAR label.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Reduce energy consumption per square foot by 35 percent from 1985 levels by 2010. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2010 from 1990 emission levels.

General Motors Corporation

25 percent reduction in total energy use from 1995 levels by 2005.

Arden Real Estate

Have all buildings operate at less than 20 kWh per square foot per year, and have all new or retrofitted buildings operate at 15 kWh per square foot per year. Have 100 buildings qualify for the ENERGY STAR Label.

3M

20 percent improvement in energy performance within 5 years.

Johnson & Johnson

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use by 4 percent from 1990 levels by 2005.

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