Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Energy Footprint Tool can help manufacturing, commercial and institutional facilities to track their energy consumption, factors related to energy use, and significant energy end-use. This is collectively referred to as the facility’s energy footprint.

While the tool can be used by anyone interested in tracking their energy footprint, it has specifically been developed to support manufacturing, industrial and commercial facilities that are implementing energy management plans through the U.S. Department of Energy’s 50001 Ready Program or implementing energy management through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Superior Energy Performance Program (SEP).

Inputs

The Footprint tool can actively track up to 20 types of energy consumption (electricity, natural gas, etc.) and 20 related relevant variables (production levels, degree days, operating hours, occupancy rates, etc.) for up to a 10 year period. Customized energy types and related factors can easily be added as needed.

Energy end-use is tracked on an annual yearly basis. Users can create up to 10 major energy end-use groups (process areas, building areas, boiler room, etc.) which each can include up to 30 individual components (boilers, fans, pumps, lights, etc.).

Outputs

The tool generates a series of charts and graphs based on the entered data. This allows for the comparison of energy types, monthly and yearly trends, and entered energy consumption (BTUs) vs energy end-use (application of energy). Comparing consumption to tracked end-use can help to determine how accurately the total “bottom-up” end-use compares to the “top-down” metered consumption and how much end-use energy consumption may be unaccounted for.

The tool can also output the energy data into a table that is compatible with the DOE Energy Performance Indicator EnPI v5.0. It is a regression analysis based tool that can help the plant and corporate managers establish a normalized baseline of energy consumption, track annual progress of intensity improvements, energy savings, Superior Energy Performance (SEP) EnPIs, and other EnPIs that account for variations due to weather, production, and other variables.

System Requirements

This tool is built into a single Microsoft Excel file. It does not need to be installed, but it does require that macros be enabled. Warning: Using the tool without enabling macros may cause the tool to function incorrectly. See below guidance on how to enable macros.

This tool has been verified to work with:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and 2010

Please do not hesitate to report any questions, comments, or issues to the AMO Help Desk at: AMO_ToolHelpDesk@ee.doe.gov

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How to Enable Macros in Excel

When opening the tool, most default versions of Excel will automatically prompt the user with a note asking if Excel should enable macros for the tool. Click the option to enable the macros and the tool should then be fully functional.

If you are not prompted to enable macros, follow these steps to adjust Excel’s macro settings:

Step 1:
For Excel 2010, go to Options under the File menu
For Excel 2007, go to Excel Options under the Microsoft Office Button menu

Step 2:
Then click Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings, and then click Macro Settings

Step 3:
Select Disable all macros with notification

Reopen the Footprint tool and you should now be prompted to enable macros.

If the prompt still does not appear upon reopening of the tool, macros can also be enabled by going back to the Macro Setting and selecting Enable all macros. Just make sure to change this setting back after using the tool.

Important Notes:

  • Macros must be enabled. The tool requires macros to properly function. All of the macro code is written in Excel VBA and is unlocked and reviewable by the user even if macros have not yet been enabled.
  • The tool is NOT password protected. For those users who are interested, this tool is not password protected. The macros may be fully reviewed, the worksheets can be unprotected, and anything can be freely modified. However, only the unmodified version of this tool can officially be supported at this time and any modification to this tool is AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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