ENERGYSTARActionWorkbookforSmallBusiness

Energyefficiencyisthefastest,leastexpensive,andlargestsinglesolutionforsimultaneouslysavingenergyand
money,andpreventinggreenhousegasemissions.Throughthemarketbased,voluntary,ENERGYSTARprogram,
theEPAishelpingbusinessesandindividualssavemoneyandprotectourclimatethroughsuperiorenergy
efficiency.Theseeffortshavehelpedcreatejobs,lowerutilitybills,andcontributetocleanerairandthe
protectionofhumanhealth.Smallbusinessesplayakeyroleintheseandfutureefficiencyefforts,asover50%of
theemployedpopulationintheU.S.worksinasmallbusiness.Yourbusinessandyourcommunityhavealotto
gainfromincreasedenergyefficiency.TohelpcompanieslikeyoursuseENERGYSTARtoolsandresourcesto
preventpollutionataprofit,ENERGYSTARhasdevelopedtheENERGYSTARActionWorkbookforSmall
Business.FollowingtheguidelinesintheWorkbookwillhelpyousavemoneyandenableyoutoshowcasean
environmentalcommitmenttostaffandcustomers.Thestepsbelowsummarizethemoredetailedinformation
andresourcestobefoundintheWorkbook,whichwillbeavailablefordownloadat
http://www.energystar.gov/smallbiz.

Step 1: Make a Commitment to Saving Energy

JointheENERGYSTARSmallBusinessNetworkand

makeacommitmenttobettercostmanagementat

http://energystar.gov/joinbuildings.

BuildanEnergyTeam.Onededicatedindividualora

grouplargeorsmallcansucceed.

InstituteanEnergyPolicytoprovidethefoundation

forasuccessfulprogrambysettingperformance

goalsandintegratingenergymanagement.

Step 2: Assess Performance

Baseline,benchmark,andstartsavingnow!Gather,

track,andanalyzedatausingEPAsfree,online

PortfolioManagertool.Thistoolcanhelpyouset

energyandwatersavingsgoals,anddocument

achievements.Learnmoreat

http://www.energystar.gov/Benchmark.

SignupforENERGYSTARtrainingandwebinarsat

http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/training.

ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management

GetthePortfolioManagerQuickStartguideat
http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/toolsandresources/portfoliomanagerquickstartguide.
ConductawalkthroughsurveyandimplementSureEnergySaverslow andnocost,reliable,lowrisk
actionsthatyourEnergyTeamcantake.

ENERGYSTARActionWorkbookforSmallBusiness

Step 3: Set Goals

Determinethescopeofyourgoals;youcanfocusonasingleproperty,orevenspecificcompany
equipmentand/orasectionofthepropertyforyourefficiencyproject.
Setandprioritizegoals.Examplegoalsinclude1)definedenergyusereductionsfrombaseline,2)cost
reductions,or3)increasedstaffawareness.

Step 4: Create an Action Plan

Definetargetsandprojects.UsePortfolioManagerorauditreportstocompareyourbaselinewiththe
goalsyouset.Thegapsbetweengoalsandyourbaselinecanhelpidentifyprojects.
Determinerolesandresponsibilities;identifywhichstepsoftheactionplanyouwillimplementinternally
andforwhichyouwillneedexternalhelpsuchascontractors,consultants,utilityrepresentatives,etc.
Findfundingforyourprojects.Takestockofyourfinancialsituationtounderstandhowmuchyoucan
spendforprojects,includingwhatisonhand,whatcouldberaisedquickly,andwhatcouldbefound
elsewhere.Checkonutilityfinancialincentives,andpossiblesharedsavingscontracting.

Step 5: Implement the Action Plan

Createacommunicationplantoeducateandmotivatestaffandcustomersregardingenergyefficiency
andthebenefitsofproposedprojects.
RaiseawarenessoftheActionPlan.Effectiveprogramsmakeemployees,managers,andotherkey
stakeholdersawareofenergyperformancegoals,theprojectsundertakentoreachthosegoals,aswell
asrolesinprojectimplementation.
ManagetheActionPlan.Establishaconsistentmethodfortrackingtheprogressofyourprojectsand
maintenancetasks.

Step 6: Evaluate Progress

Trackprogress.Monitoringprogresshelpsyourbusinesslooktowardthefuture,createnewactionplans,
evaluatewhichelementsofyourActionPlanworkedandwhichdidnt,andsetnewperformancegoals.
Measureresultsandverifysavingsthroughaformalreviewofenergyusedataandtheactivitiescarried
outtoimplementprojects.DidtheprojectsimplementedthroughyourActionPlanhelpmeetgoals?
ReviewtheActionPlan.Whichprojectsweremostsuccessfulbothintermsofbusinessoperationsaswell
assavingenergy?Werethereunsuccessfulprojectsprovidinglessonslearned?

Step 7: Recognize Achievements

Provideinternalrecognitionatregularintervalsforeveryonewhohelpedtheprojectsucceed.
Toreceiveexternalrecognitionyoucan:
Tellyourstory.Shareyoursuccesswithyourcommunitythroughtraditionalandsocialmedia.
Joinafriendlycompetition.UsetheENERGYSTARGuidetoEnergyEfficiencyCompetitionsat
http://www.energystar.gov/CompetitionGuide.
Lookingformoreoutreach?Yoursuccessstorymaybeuniqueandeducationalworthyof
publication!ContacttheENERGYSTARsmallbusinessteamformoreinformationat
energystarsmallbiz@energyandsecurity.com.
Tosaveand/orprintthis2pagesummary,pleasevisithttp://www.energystar.gov/SmallBiz

ENERGYSTARActionWorkbookforSmallBusiness