Step 3: Plan

In this step you will take a more in-depth look at the energy management opportunities of your hospital and what it will take to achieve them. You can then organize all of the information from this and Step 1 into a plan.

Conduct an In-Depth Facility Assessment
This should be done onsite by a professional service provider. Make sure the assessor has extensive experience in finding efficiency opportunities (equipment and O&M) in hospitals of similar size and complexity.

Tip: In Step 2, ask executives whether they need this level of assessment for SEMP approval. If not, this can be done later during implementation of enhanced operations and maintenance, Step 5.

Assess Staffing and Funding Needs for SEMP
An often neglected part of planning is the realistic assessment of costs to secure, train and pay both outsourced and in-house manpower. These costs need to be included in the SEMP.

Tool: Staffing and Funding Needs for SEMP (coming soon)

Tip: With all of your other responsibilities, you'll probably need help implementing the SEMP. This tool suggests options for additional assistance and provides a sample "Strategic Resource Manager" job description.

Develop SEMP and Get Approval
The tools below will help you create your own plan, and prepare to present it to your executives.

Tool: SEMP Template and Workplan. Sample content you might choose for your plan components: vision, guiding principles, business case, business proposition, and energy management goals and objectives.

Tip: Facility directors have found that the plan is most effective when the content and language relflect their particular hospital.