This Methodology has been developed because it:

• Is tailored to energy-intensive industrial companies in developing Asian countries, which in many ways are different from companies in industrialized and Western countries
• Focuses on energy, which is less visible than waste, water and raw materials
• Explains not only what should be done in theory, but also how it is done in practice because all companies are different. A focus is therefore given on how to overcome barriers such as time limitations and lack of data, and on practical company examples

This Methodology is based on:

• The Cleaner Production (CP) strategy: prevention of waste, systematic approach, integrated into business processes and aimed at continuous improvement
• Several existing CP and energy audit methodologies
• Real practice experience from energy assessments carried out as part of the GERIAP project in more than 40 Asian industrial companies

The Methodology consists of steps and tasks. Under each step there are several tasks. Each task describes what a company should do as a minimum. Arrows on the right provide more detailed information:

• Company examples that explain how the task was applied at different companies and lessons learnt
• Worksheets to assist you in completing the task, and which are editable and printable
• Other information or tools relevant to the task, such as software tools or consultants contract templates

Remember: the ultimate purpose is to keep improving energy efficiency, and this approach can help companies do this. But the approach should be applied flexibly and depending on the company's situation, because each company is different: country, sector, size, organizational structure, production processes, existing energy management systems, and so on.