Figure 6.6 shows the SEP payback period versus the plant energy consumption.
Plants with an energy consumption greater than approximately 0.3 trillion Btu per
year will typically experience a payback on the overall SEP cost of 2 years or better.
U.S. DOE is working with industry to develop an enterprise-wide SEP certification,
which will reduce costs further. The silver, gold, and platinum designation on the
chart indicates plant energy improvement as a percent reduction from its baseline,
ranging from silver at 5% (the minimum) to gold at 10% and platinum at 15% or
greater.