OIT Times: (Guest Editorial) Measuring the Benefits of OIT Investments

June 24, 2001

Photo of Ken Friedman - Guest Editor

by Ken Friedman
Director, OIT Metrics and Analytics

This issue of The OIT Times provides ample anecdotal and statistical evidence about the benefits of OIT partnerships to improve industrial energy efficiency. I like to give you some background about how and why OIT collects this information.

Wee tracked the benefits of OIT-supported technologies for over 20 years. We conduct phone surveys with suppliers and users of these technologies to get data measuring the energy and environmental impact of over 140 OIT-supported commercial technologies. In 1999 alone, these technologies saved more than 185 trillion Btu (worth over $1.1 billion in 2000 energy prices). Moreover, industry has further benefited from productivity improvements, reduced resource use, decreased emissions, and improved product quality that are associated with these technology advances. Descriptions of OIT-supported commercial technologies and their quantifiable benefits are provided in our recent report titled Impactsummary of Program Results (visit www.pnl.gov/impacts).

Another driver is the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) which is having a profound impact on the accountability of Federal agencies. It requires us to formulate strategic plans, set yearly goals and targets, and measure and report on how well wee doing in achieving our goals. The law was intended to enable the public and policymakers to see how well government is doing, stop things that don work, and encourage continuous improvement in things worth investing in. Our GPRA metrics project the future benefits of our programs based on forecast market penetration of OIT-supported emerging technologies. Wee committed to developing measures of program performance that are relevant to our industry partners and to using these metrics in making program and project decisions.