Sustaining Change

by John Klein, Sharon Levin, and Deborah Cloutier

The following excerpts are from IREM's Key Report, A Practical Guide to Energy Management (IREM Copyright 2005):

All too often, organizations implement change only to have it wane over time. An organization�s Energy Policy must be sustainable to effectively meet organizational goals over the long term. The Policy should become an integral part of the building�s operations. This Policy serves as a formal document that communicates to its stakeholders the organization�s commitment to improved energy performance and environmental stewardship. An effective Energy Policy includes the following components:

• Clearly stated goals and objectives that support organizational strategic goals
• A chain of command outlining who reports to whom
• Detailed descriptions of the roles of each of the members of the Energy Management Team
• Procedures outlining day-to-day responsibilities for each member of the team
• Assessment and evaluation procedures for individual pieces of equipment
• Methods to be used to communicate with upper management and other stakeholders
• A schedule to reassess the Energy Policy to ensure it reflects current operational conditions and available technologies and practices