Strategic Energy Management 101 (SEM 101)

Strategic Energy Management is a discipline of energy efficiency that focuses on an organization systematically understanding, controlling, and thereby reducing energy consumption and demand and their associated costs and GHG Emissions over time. It does this by helping an organization understand and address gaps in areas such as its overall energy and climate policies, human resource organization capacity, energy efficiency project development practices, monitoring and reporting systems, and financial resource allocations.  Without a strategic approach, many organizations try to address energy efficiency on a piecemeal, project-by-project approach the result of which is sometimes unclear, and which does not lead to sustained energy and demand reductions. Strategic Energy Management helps organizations to change their approach into a more stable, controlled, and predictable continuous improvement cycle. 

The course is broken down into several modules that will be covered in two days. Each module features a presentation of concepts supported by engaging exercises and useful SEM tools such as templates and worksheets. Day one of the course is focused on the organization itself and focuses on how to develop an energy management strategy, how to assess organizational capacity, and how to begin addressing gaps in planning, financial resource allocation, and communication.  Day two is focused on how best to identify and prioritize energy efficiency initiatives, develop energy efficiency projects, and report on progress.  

Organizations that embrace Strategic Energy Management principals have been shown to achieve year-over-year energy and cost reductions in their portfolios of up to 5 percent. This 2-day course will help your organization to understand the principles of Strategic Energy Management and better position itself to develop an energy management strategy, set and communicate energy management goals, and consider how the organization can systematically reduce energy consumption and help meet climate objectives. 

Key learning objectives

Upon completing this course, participants will better understand:

• What an energy efficiency strategy looks like 
• How we effectively assess our capacity to manage energy consumption and GHG emissions
• The policies and organizational structures that advance our energy efficiency goals 
• What ensures financial resources are appropriately allocated to energy efficiency objectives 
• How to best identify and prioritize energy efficiency initiatives 
• The importance of reporting on and communicating the performance of energy efficiency initiatives to ensure continuous improvement

Target audience 

This course is suited to mid-level and senior decision makers who have strategic influence within their organizations in: 

• Energy and environment policy setting 
• Finance and capital project planning 
• Facilities and fleet management