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Assessment Procedures
Companies eligible for a FREE energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and productivity improvement assessments must be located generally within the state of Alabama (or 150 mi. from University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa campus).
Manufacturers must also meet three of the following criteria:
- Energy bills are more than $100,000 but less than about $2.5 million
- Less than 500 employees at plant site
- Gross annual sales from facility location are less than about $100 million
- Does not employ an in-house energy professional which could perform this energy assessment
Assessment Timeline
- Preliminary Information...........................telephone or fax/mail
- Plant Visit............................................1 or 2 days
- Assessment Report................................60 days
- Implementation Survey...........................6-12 months after visit
IAC Assessment
The typical IAC assessment visit begins with an introductory meeting between client facility representatives and the full IAC assessment team. The scope of the IAC services, the characteristics of the facility including potential safety hazards, the processes and resource use concerns are discussed. Full compliance with the minimum safety standards established by the host facility is mandatory.
The next stage of a typical IAC assessment visit is a tour of the manufacturing facility where the IAC team becomes familiar with the layout, flow, and needs of the site. Usually the tour is lead by the most knowledgeable plant representative available. The most effective tours have been found to follow the plant production process from the location where raw materials are received through the production process to the point finished goods are shipped.
When the IAC assessment is performed, IAC team members work in groups and observe plant processes within a client’s facility.
After taking all necessary measurements and readings, a final meeting with the client facility representatives is conducted to clarify processes, discuss findings, get input on potential recommendations, and inform the client about next steps prior to leaving the facility.
Overall, the total assessment takes anywhere from three to five hours, and requires about an hour of time from the Facility Manager or staff.
Assessment Report
From the measurements and information gathered from the plant visit, a confidential report detailing our analysis findings and recommendations will be provided to the client. This report will be provided to the client within 60 days of the assessment. In 2 to 6 months, the client will be contacted to verify if the recommendations have been implemented.