What is an Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI)?

Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI) is a measure of energy intensity used to gauge the effectiveness of your energy management efforts. The EnPI is a regression analysis tool developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to help managers normalized baseline of energy consumption.  It is used to track annual improvements, energy savings, and Superior Energy Performance (SEP). The tool is designed to help many different types of organization monitor their energy consumption, and is also used to communicate across uses such as SEP participants, Better Plants Program, Better Buildings and Challenge Partners, and other manufacturing and non-manufacturing facilities.

The U.S. Department of Energy has developed the EnPI V5.0. The tool is a Microsoft Excel-based tool that can be installed and will run locally on your computer. If you are interested in this tool you should visit energy.gov.

Regression is commonly used for estimating energy savings and has proven to be reliable when the input data accounts for annual variation in operating conditions.In addition to providing a normalized view of energy performance, the EnPI tool calculates metrics specific to the Better Plants, 50001 Ready and SEP Programs. The tool calculates cumulative improvement and annual improvement.  The tool can allow energy managers to aggregate plant level energy usage and metrics up to a corporate level – determining corporate energy performance compared to goals.

Examples of Energy Performance Indicator Inputs are:

• Monthly Energy Consumption Data (preferably separately by type of energy, e.g., electricity, natural gas)
• Any variables that affect the energy consumption in a facility (e.g., heating degree days (HDD), cooling degree days (CDD), dew point temperature, product output, the moisture content of the product, shift schedule adjustments, etc.) 

Examples of Energy Performance Indicators Outputs are:

• Total Current Year Primary Energy Consumed (MMBtu/year)
• Total Improvement in Energy Intensity for Baseline Year (%)
• Adjustment for Baseline Primary Energy use (MMBtu/year)
• Adjusted Baseline of Primary Energy (MMBtu/year)
• New Energy Savings for Current Year (MMBtu/year)
• Total Energy Savings since Baseline Year (MMBtu/year)
• Annual Improvement in Energy Intensity for Current Year (%)
• Total Baseline Primary Energy Consumed (MMBtu/year)

Energy Management

Energy Management is based on more than just implementing energy efficiency projects. If you want to better your energy performance you need to:

• Raise awareness of your goals to employees
• Set specific goals that are achievable
• Understand your finances, and budget for your goals. Sometimes you may have to invest up front but will see a return on your investment over time
• Tracking and Reporting are key to understand trends and adjust your management strategy 
• ISO 50001 Energy Management System

Helpful Tools

Energy Performance indicator Tool Lite (EnPI Lite)- an online regression-based calculator for modeling energy performance at the facility level. EnPI Lite has been designed to follow the 50001 Ready Measurement and Verification Protocol.