Step 5 – Implementation and monitoring of options

Task 5b: Close out meeting with top management

Associated Motor Ways, AMW (Iron and steel, Sri Lanka)

• At the evaluation meeting with top management of this company, the external facilitators praised the company that the General Manager was available for discussion and evaluation at the beginning and at the end of each visit. This greatly contributed to the success of the assessment ad implementation of options. This high level of commitment from top management also was important to get support for future projects to continuously improve energy efficiency (step 6).
  Lesson learnt: The ownership and top management support for future work is greatly improved if top management has been involved throughout the assessment process.

Lime Master Ltd (Cement, Thailand)

• Top management informed the external facilitators at the end of the project that they were most pleased and surprised by the success of the installation of a bag filter to collect lime powder dust. This option was approved because dust is considered a major problem by local authorities and residents, although financially the option would not save the company money. However, when the bag filter was put into operation it was found that the lime powder could be recovered and sold as product. This provided the company with unexpected savings of almost US $ 35,000 and the bag filter was paid back in 18 months.
  Lesson learnt: Sometimes options that seem to be financially unfeasible can provide unexpected savings. It is therefore useful to think about all direct and indirect benefits that a proposed option might bring.

Sai Son Cement (Cement, Vietnam)

• Top management indicated that the energy assessment has made the company more conscious about energy efficiency and made the company realize that energy efficiency can result in quick financial savings. However, management was not certain about whether to continue with energy efficiency, because they do not know what the improvement potential is. Benchmark figures to compare the company’s specific energy consumption with similar companies or compare the performance of their equipments with standards would help to convince management
  Lesson learnt: An indication of future improvement potential in energy efficiency based on benchmark figures would help to convince top management to commit to more energy assessments.

Ha Bac Fertilizer (Chemicals, Vietnam)

• Thanks to the positive results from the energy options implemented, top management supported further energy efficiency activities that were proposed by the team relating to the spray nozzle of the boiler.
  Lesson learnt: Successful results from the first assessment are a very good reason for the company to continue with their energy efficiency program.

Other lessons learnt

• The Team could prepare a report about the project for the evaluation meeting with management
• Staff can be informed about the results through, for example, a letter, notice boards, posters, internal meetings and reports. This will increase internal motivation to continue with energy efficiency
• Also think about communicating your successes to customers, suppliers, the government and other stakeholders outside the company. It will help improve the company’s image and external stakeholder can also help to improve the company’s energy efficiency in the future. This can be done, for example, through a letter, meetings with stakeholders or the company’s website or environmental/ sustainability report
• In addition to internal communication, external facilitators should present the results achieved at one company to other companies to encourage them to start with energy efficiency too
• As part of the evaluation process, make notes about what was done during each task and lessons learnt. This will help with preparing a plan for future energy assessments