Within these principles lies a complex matrix of knowledge and skill requirements. For example, managing energy consumption at peak efficiency can involve activities ranging from auditing, to specifying retrofit measures and analyzing the resulting return on investment, to monitoring and targeting, to conducting employee and tenant awareness educational programs, and more. The energy manager typically will have responsibility for advising senior management on energy reduction strategies, for gaining commitment throughout the organization, for managing the implementation of measures, and for dealing effectively with contractors and energy suppliers.
The skill set includes technical knowledge of contemporary building energy systems and energy rate structures, analytical techniques for assessing energy use, financial management methods for evaluating energy efficiency investments, and "social marketing" skills for building organizational commitment. For an individual employed in the facility management field, it would probably take up to a year of study to develop the necessary competencies.
Energy management is the collective term for all the systematic practices to minimise and control both the quantity and cost of energy used in providing a service. Establishing sound energy management practices is an essential part of successfully achieving the objectives of the Energy Smart Government policy.
Energy Smart management should not be undertaken in isolation but should be a strategic component of a comprehensive business management plan. It is a key part of any philosophy of continuous improvement. Energy management not only makes good financial sense it also protects the environment by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to government operations.