Improving Performance via Energy Efficiency JUSTIFI: Open-Source Software for Identifying and Quantifying Non-Energy Benefit

With growing energy supply concerns and rising costs, energy efficiency is a critical component of industrial energy resilience and competitiveness by reducing energy operating costs. Energy efficiency projects in manufacturing yield valuable benefits to other key metrics: improved quality, reduced maintenance costs, improved safety, and enhanced productivity. The inclusion of non-energy benefits (NEBs) in the decision-making process for energy efficiency projects can improve the overall financial payback period while demonstrating a positive impact on the firm’s key performance metrics and strategy. Despite significant financial and strategic value, NEBs are rarely factored into decision-making due to lack of tools to effectively identify and quantify them. Therefore, a comprehensive and integrative approach is needed for the rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Addressing these challenges, our new methodology integrates continuous improvement six sigma concepts, such as the DMAIC process, a protocol of guiding questions, and open-source software, JUSTIFI, into energy efficiency assessments. These tools are designed to be used concurrently with DOE energy system analysis software suite, MEASUR. Our methodology and tools inform energy assessors, firm engineering, decision makers, and workforce seeking to increase energy resilience and to maximize benefits aligned with performance metrics.

This work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.