--- title: "Energy Management Systems – Getting Started" id: "2677" type: "post" slug: "energy-management-systems-getting-started" published_at: "2023-11-16T13:50:08+00:00" modified_at: "2023-11-14T16:03:37+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/energy-management-systems-getting-started-002677/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/11/energy-management-systems-getting-started-002677.md" excerpt: "If energy use is not visible and measured then there will be no improvement. Every site needs an ‘Energy Policy’ - a statement of commitment on energy use." taxonomy_category: - "Auxiliaries" - "Blow Molding" - "Business" - "Compounding" - "Extrusion" - "Injection Molding" - "Process" - "Rotational Molding" - "Sustainability" - "Thermoforming" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Energy" - "Energy Savings" - "Sustainability" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Process](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/process/) » Energy Management Systems – Getting Started # Energy Management Systems – Getting Started There will be no progress in managing energy use unless it is on the Management Agenda. If energy use is not visible and measured then there will be no improvement. Every site needs an ‘Energy Policy’ – a statement of commitment on energy use. This should include improvement targets for the short, medium and long terms. This policy can be part of the ‘umbrella’ Sustainability Policy. The policy should be widely distributed to encourage awareness of the costs and benefits of energy management. Energy management should be the clear responsibility of Production because they control most of the energy use. An ‘Energy Manager’ can only act as the scorekeeper and the process should be driven by Production. Funds and time should be allocated to carry out management projects. Monitoring and targeting (M&T) are fundamental for energy management. A lot of data is probably already being collected but management is not about data, it is about providing information to target improvements. Targeting is the key action – what gets measured gets done! ## **Action:** - Create and distribute a formal site Energy Policy. - Assign clear responsibilities for management. - Gather initial data and convert this into information to manage site energy use. - Use the performance information to target improvements. - Publish performance information widely. *Dr. Robin Kent is the author of ‘[Energy Management in Plastics Processing](https://www.amazon.com/Energy-Management-Plastics-Processing-Strategies/dp/0081025076/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1699448773&sr=1-1) ’, published by Elsevier and Managing Director of Tangram Technology Ltd. ([www.tangram.co.uk](http://www.tangram.co.uk/) ), consulting engineers for energy and sustainability management in plastics processing.* By **[Robin Kent](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/dr-robin-kent/)** | November 16, 2023 [http://www.tangram.co.uk](http://www.tangram.co.uk) ##### [Robin Kent](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/dr-robin-kent/) [Website](http://www.tangram.co.uk) | [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [May 5, 2026Assessing the Limits of Circularity in Healthcare Plastics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/assessing-the-limits-of-circularity-in-healthcare-plastics-011180/) [May 11, 2026Global Polymer Feedstock Supply Chains Face Rising Disruptions](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/global-polymer-feedstock-supply-chains-face-rising-disruptions-011233/) [May 8, 2026Redefining “Premium” Appearance in Sustainable Plastics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/redefining-premium-appearance-in-sustainable-plastics-011191/) [May 28, 2026Water Packaging Design: Turning a Commodity into a Brand](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/water-packaging-design-turning-a-commodity-into-a-brand-011288/) [May 6, 2026Reinforcement Learning for Polymer Design and Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/reinforcement-learning-for-polymer-design-and-manufacturing-011146/) [May 27, 2026Self-Lubricating PEEK Bushings for Heavy-Duty Equipment](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/self-lubricating-peek-bushings-for-heavy-duty-equipment-011323/) [May 22, 2026Packaging Embellishment as Brand Storytelling in Premium Design](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/packaging-embellishment-as-brand-storytelling-in-premium-design-011273/) [May 13, 2026The Logistics Challenge of Scaling Mechanical Recycling](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/the-logistics-challenge-of-scaling-mechanical-recycling-011251/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2023/11/energy-management-systems-getting-started-002677/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&text=Energy+Management+Systems+%E2%80%93+Getting+Started&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&text=Energy+Management+Systems+%E2%80%93+Getting+Started&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&t=Energy+Management+Systems+%E2%80%93+Getting+Started](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&t=Energy+Management+Systems+%E2%80%93+Getting+Started) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&title=Energy%20Management%20Systems%20%E2%80%93%20Getting%20Started&summary=If+energy+use+is+not+visible+and+measured+then+there+will+be+no+improvement.%C2%A0Every+site+needs+an+%E2%80%98Energy+Policy%E2%80%99+-+a+statement+of+commitment+on+energy+use.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&title=Energy%20Management%20Systems%20%E2%80%93%20Getting%20Started&summary=If+energy+use+is+not+visible+and+measured+then+there+will+be+no+improvement.%C2%A0Every+site+needs+an+%E2%80%98Energy+Policy%E2%80%99+-+a+statement+of+commitment+on+energy+use.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&title=Energy+Management+Systems+%E2%80%93+Getting+Started](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=2677&title=Energy+Management+Systems+%E2%80%93+Getting+Started) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#37084442555d5254430a675b5644435e5444177259505e595252455e5950171a1772595245504e177a56595650525a52594317644e4443525a441711140f0506060c17705243435e59501764435645435253115558534e0a5f434347440d181840404019475b5644435e54445259505e595252455e5950195845501808470a05010000](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#37084442555d5254430a675b5644435e5444177259505e595252455e5950171a1772595245504e177a56595650525a52594317644e4443525a441711140f0506060c17705243435e59501764435645435253115558534e0a5f434347440d181840404019475b5644435e54445259505e595252455e5950195845501808470a05010000) - [#comments](#comments)