An energy management program helps a business or family attain greater energy efficiency. This program might be made available online via energy management software or in a consulting setting, in which experts advise clients in a group setting or on an individual basis. Depending on the types of energy needs and goals, the time, investments and degree of change required to complete an energy management program will vary. These programs could address several energy-related issues, including government requirements, clean technology, integrating alternative fuels for transportation and monitoring greenhouse gasses.
Regional governments have different expectations surrounding energy efficiency, and an energy management program can help a business abide by those goals. If a company is expanding, for instance, there might be requirements surrounding the type of energy equipment, designs or systems used in the upgrade. In the event that a government building is being renovated, there might be minimum requirements for the amount of renewable energy sources that are used throughout a facility, such as solar power, wind energy or geothermal heating and cooling systems. These parameters would be outlined in an energy management program.
Another objective in an energy management system is to inform and educate people about clean technologies and which sources are best suited for which conditions. Through an energy management program, individuals and groups can learn about clean technologies, which are designed to produce electricity, heating and cooling features using renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar. For instance, solar technologies can produce electricity, heating and cooling. A solar hot water system uses technology to collect, absorb and transfer heat from the sun to water. That water, in turn, is kept warm with pumps and other controls and stored for future use.
An energy management program might provide details on transitioning to vehicles that use renewable fuel, which is especially useful for transportation companies. Vehicles that are designed to accept alternative fuels could run on different variations of biofuels. Biofuels are an alternative form of transportation fuel, such as ethanol, that do not result in harmful emissions the way natural gas and crude oil do.
Energy systems can help a business determine which types of vehicles are best suited for them. Some trucks and cars can run on a blend of fossil fuel and ethanol, while others run entirely on biodiesel. An energy program can help with decisions that include whether to buy or lease vehicles, the costs involved and which biofuel blends are the most environmentally friendly.