It is essential to define what determines a successful outcome from an energy efficiency and sustainability program. Commonwealth Consulting Services maintains that outcomes must be measureable. This means that you must know your starting point, which is called your Baseline. An Energy Audit will allow you to see what physical improvements are possible and project energy efficiency gains against that Baseline. 

A Sustainability Plan will present opportunities to modify behavior or operations to also make gains against your carbon footprint.

So once baseline data has been collected, and at least a preliminary energy audit has been completed, it is time to discuss goals for conservation.  A percentage reduction in energy usage, a percentage of recycling, a percentage of energy from renewable resources, a percentage reduction in overall carbon impact upon the environment – these are goals.

Agreeing on goals, and recognizing the investment necessary to reaching those goals begins to shape the scope and reach of the overall Sustainability Plan.