In most process industries, energy

In most process industries, energy costs are second only to raw material costs. Entire departments are devoted to optimizing raw material choices and product slates, using planning models, supply strategies, and online optimization. Apart from buying energy at the lowest possible cost, most companies also consider energy to be an inevitable cost of doing business. However, energy use is not just a concern for the utilities department, and you,asanenergy manager,must separatethecost ofdoingbusiness from thecost of doing business well. Other benefits flow from focusing on energy, such as a reduced environmental impact and a cultural change toward reducing waste, but the scope of any energy management program is determined by its economic value.