Measuring Energy Efficiency in the Department of Defense.
Abstract
We conclude that energy productivity ratios--overall or at lower, functional levels, e.g., for mobility operations--are usually infeasible. Even at the less highly aggregate levels, such as military airlift or aircraft depot maintenance, individual operational outputs are difficult to define and measure and impossible to combine. At the specific operational levels where outputs can be identified and defined, energy consumption, the denominator of the productivity ratio, is usually metered at too high a level to permit linkage with outputs. We recommend that DoD abandon its attempts to develop energy productivity ratios to evaluate energy consumption and that it adopt two other analytical methods. The first method is trend analysis of energy intensity ratios--ratios of energy consumption costs to total outlays at several levels of aggregation. Differentiating among activities according to their energy intensity trends will allow management attention to be concentrated where potential energy savings are highest. Where they are, we recommend a second analytical method, quantitative relationships, by activity, between energy consumption and the principal activities and factors (e.g., flying hours, base population) associated with it. Using these relationships DoD managers can obtain and understanding of energy consumption impacts. They will be able to determine whether changes in consumption are significant, and thus will have a basis for setting meaninful energy goals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA153642
Entities
People
- B. L. Murrie
Organizations
- LMI