KEEPS Energy Management Toolkit Library

Welcome to the KEEPS Toolkit Library

This resource provides a list of all materials available in the KEEPS Training System. All materials listed here are available to download.

The KEEPS Training System provides a valuable package of tools, training, coaching and expertise to implement an effective and sustainable Energy Management Program. It is based on the ENERGY STAR® Guidelines for Energy Management, which is a proven strategy to help organizations improve energy and financial performance. This strategy allows participants to take ownership of their Energy Management Program, which ensures energy and cost savings year after year and promotes a culture of responsible environmental and community stewardship KEEPS Energy Management Toolkits.

KEEPS provides a series of self-guided Toolkits to facilitate progress through the seven-step energy management process. The Toolkits are designed to help Energy Managers, Energy Team members and other stakeholders learn the process of energy management. Each Toolkit includes downloadable presentations and other materials to help you understand the seven-step process.

Get Started

The seven-step energy management process is outlined below. Each step provides more information about the step itself as well as the KEEPS Energy Management Toolkits associated with that step.

The Seven Step Process

Step 1: Make the Commitment

The first step of the energy management process establishes support and requires collaboration, communication and participation among stakeholders.

To establish an effective comprehensive Energy Management Program, an organization needs to make a commitment to continual improvement by:

1. Instituting an Approved Energy Policy to garner support from senior administration.
2. Establishing a Cross-functional Energy Team to spearhead Energy Management Program initiatives.
3. Developing a Communications Plan to raise awareness about the importance of best energy management practices.
4. Becoming an ENERGY STAR® Partner to further demonstrate your commitment to energy efficiency.

Step 1 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentations

• Main Presentation – 1-A
• Facilitator Orientation – 1-A
• Main Presentation – 1-B
• Facilitator Orientation – 1-B
• Main Presentation – 1-C
• Facilitator Orientation – 1-C
• Main Presentation – 1-D
• Facilitator Orientation – 1-D

Step 2: Assess Performance & Opportunities

The second step of the energy management process focuses on assessing energy performance and identifying opportunities for improvement. Assessing energy performance, both past and present, is essential to establishing a baseline of energy consumption and costs. This information provides a starting point with which to monitor and measure progress with energy efficiency efforts.

Evaluating the operational performance of major facilities and systems will highlight many low-cost/no-cost energy efficiency opportunities and draw attention to more cost-intensive long-term projects.

To assess energy performance and opportunities:

1. Gather and track energy consumption and costs.
2. Establish a baseline of consumption and costs.
3. Benchmark energy performance between facilities.
4. Analyze energy use patterns and trends.
5. Perform technical assessments and audits.

Step 2 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentations

• Intro
• Utility Bill Analysis
• Utility Tracking Tool
• School Energy Profile
• Calculating Energy Use Intensity
• HVAC Systems
• Thermostat Settings
• Lighting
• Plug Load
• Water Heating
• Water Conservation
• Building Envelope

Step 3: Set Performance Goals

The third step of the energy management process is to set achievable and measurable energy performance goals.  An energy performance goal establishes long-term energy consumption reduction targets and helps focus current and planned Energy Management Program initiatives.

An effective energy performance goal follows the “SMART” framework, which provides structure and direction for the school district with respect to energy management. As such, the energy performance goal should be:

1. SPECIFIC: Easily understandable for district stakeholders and identifies desired results and actions to attain those results.
2. MEASURABLE: Includes a method of measuring success and progress and how improved energy performance will be verified.
3. ACHIEVABLE: Realistic given the current administrative and budgetary priorities as well as the resources available through the cross-functional Energy Team.
4. RELEVANT: Supports the mission and vision.
5. TIME-FRAMED: Establishes a specific and reasonable time frame to achieve the goal.

Step 3 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentations

• Main Presentation
• Facilitator Orientation
• Brainstorming Presentation

Step 4: Create an Action Plan

Step four is to create an energy management action plan.

While an energy policy/mission/principle highlights energy efficiency as an overarching guideline, the action plan defines the specific technical steps, targets and responsibilities needed to realize this vision.

With your energy performance goals in place, you can establish an energy management action plan that:

1. Assures continual improvement and year-over-year results;
2. Identifies specific actions to achieve for each energy performance goal; and
3. Establishes a systematic process to implement energy performance measures and create accountability.

Step 4 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentations

• Main Presentation
• Facilitator Orientation

Step 5: Implement the Action Plan

Once an energy management action plan has been developed, the school pro-active measures must be taken to implement the plan based on the energy performance goal and objectives outlined in the plan. Successful implementation of the energy management action plan includes five key components.

1. COMMUNICATE the newly developed action plan to key stakeholders.
2. RAISE AWARENESS about the plan through demonstrations of cost and energy savings realized from best energy management practices.
3. BUILD CAPACITY of KNOWLEDGE about the plan throughout the organization with training and use of resources provided by KEEPS and other organizations.
4. MOTIVATE staff to follow the action plan.
5. TRACK and MONITOR how the organization is meeting its energy performance goal through objectives defined in the action plan.

Step 5 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentation

Main Presentation

Step 6: Evaluate Progress

Periodic evaluation of your Energy Management Program and Energy Management Action Plan will keep the Energy Team informed as to progress made on established goals, such as reductions in energy consumption and the energy performance opportunities implemented. Frequent review will further identify any efficiency measures that need to be modified or added to the program and plan.

Step 6 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentation

• Main Presentation

Step 7: Recognize Achievements

The seventh step of the energy management process focuses on how to recognize and reward an Energy Management Program’s achievements. Recognizing achievements helps sustain momentum and support for the Energy Management Program.

External recognition opportunities from state and national programs, non-profit organizations and other third-party organizations further validate the your energy management initiatives.

Step 7 Toolkit

PowerPoint Presentation

Awards and Recognition Presentation

Toolkit Exercises

pdf Documents

• Brainwriting – Facilitator Instruction Sheet
• Brainstorming – Facilitator Instruction Sheet
• Brainwriting – Accountability – 1-A
• Brainwriting – Activities – 1-C
• Brainwriting – Continual Improvement – 1-A
• Brainwriting – Message – 1-C
• Brainwriting – Objective –  1-A
• Brainwriting Worksheet – Projects and Actions
• Brainwriting – PromoteGoals – 1-A
• Energy Performance Goal Worksheet
• Energy Team Communications Plan Worksheet – 1-C
• Energy Policy Worksheet – 1-A
• Energy Management Projects and Actions Worksheet (Excel File)
• Facility Baseline Worksheet (Excel File)
• Portfolio Data Collection Worksheet – 1-D

Toolkit Handouts

pdf Documents

• Communications Plan Activities – Toolkit 1C
• Energy Program Awareness-Mascots – Toolkit 1C
• Reference Evaluation Questions
• Energy Team Appointment Memo – Toolkit 1B
• Energy Team Meeting Agenda Items-Toolkit 1B
• Energy Team Meeting Guidelines-Toolkit 1B
• Energy Team Meeting Sign-in Sheet-Toolkit 1B
• Energy Star Partner Commitments – Toolkit 1D
• Forming a Cross-functional Energy Team – Toolkit 1B
• Intelligent Energy Choices Fact Sheet
• KSBA Energy Policy – Toolkit 1A
• Sample Fact Sheet – Toolkit 1C
• Sample Energy Performance Goal Worksheet
• Fayette Co. Public Schools Sustainability Plan
• Sample Energy Policy – Toolkit 1A
• Sample Energy Team Meeting Agenda – Toolkit 1B
• Sample Energy Team Meeting Minutes – Toolkit 1B
• SMART Goals Framework and Tips

Energy Assessment Tools and Forms

Excel Files

• On-Site Assessment Forms
• UBA Tool
• Quick KEEPS UBA Tool
• Utility Tracking Tool
• School Energy Profile Tool(1)
• Energy Use Intensity Tool
• Thermostat Settings Tool
• LightingTool(1)
• Plug Load and CPM Tool
• Water Heating Tool
• Water Conservation Tool
• Assessment Report Template With Instructions (pdf)
• Assessment Report Template (MS Word)
• Energy Report Card
• Energy Checklist-1

Energy Management Action Plan Resources

pdf Documents

• Model Energy Management Action Plan
• Energy Management Action Plan-Template (MS Word)
• Appendix A – KSBA Energy Policy – Toolkit 1A
• Appendix B – Energy Team Communications Plan Worksheet
• Appendix D – Sample Building Request Form
• Appendix E – Sample Energy Auditor Checklist
• Appendix F – Sample Classroom Energy Checklist No. 1
• Appendix F – Sample Classroom Energy Checklist No. 2
• Appendix F – Sample Energy Checklist for Offices
• Appendix G – Sample Common Area Checklist
• Appendix H – Shutdown Checklist – Extended Weekend
• Appendix H – Shutdown Checklist – Fall-Winter-Spring Break
• Appendix J – Sample Idling Policy No. 1
• Appendix J – Sample Idling Policy No. 2
• Appendix J – Sample Idling Policy No. 3
• Energy Management Projects and Actions Worksheet (Excel File)