The Assessment Process

What to Expect at an IAC Assessment

If you are a small or mid-sized manufacturer in southern New England, you may qualify for a no-cost assessment that will identify opportunities to help you save energy, reduce waste, and improve productivity. The assessments are done by faculty and students from the Department of Physics and Engineering at the Community College of Rhode Island. On average, each assessment identifies opportunities to save more than 10% in annual energy expenditures.

Still wondering what type of a commitment it requires from you, what to expect, and what benefits you will receive if you participate? Read on to understand the process from start to finish, then Request an Assessment!

The Assessment Process:

Step 1: Pre-Assessment Information

We gather information about your plant, like layout, SIC/NAICS code, and process description. We also need information regarding production levels, revenue, etc. Finally, we request one year of past utility bills and a list of major energy-consuming equipment to assist in the pre-assessment analysis.

Step 2: Ensuring Key Plant Personnel Involvement

This step involves coordinating with key plant personnel, like the plant manager, energy manager, any environmental personnel, and maintenance personnel, and ensuring their involvement in the process and assessment.

Step 3: Pre-Assessment Analysis

We analyze your manufacturing process and the data you have provided. We chart and graph utility bills and analyze them for trends and errors, identify key energy systems, review design documentation, and identify possible energy-saving recommendations using the IAC database, all in preparation for the on-site assessment.

Step 4: Assessment Day

The on-site assessment will consist of the following:

• Introduction
• Description of manufacturing process
• Plant Tour
• Meeting room debrief
• Reviewing notes
• Refining list of potential opportunities to investigate
• Data Gathering: measuring, monitoring, and diagnostics
• Exit Interview

Step 5: Post-Assessment Activities

The post-assessment will consist of the following:

1. Conduct engineering and financial analysis
   1. Develop first-order estimates of implementation costs
   2. Deliver report to you
2. Contents of an IAC Report
   1. Executive Summary including a summary of Recommendations
   2. Plant and process description
   3. Charts, tables, and outline of energy-consuming equipment
   4. Best practices and description of recommendations
3. Follow-up
   1. We call you two weeks later to ensure delivery and answer questions
   2. Survey implementation results in 6 to 9 months
   3. Upload data to IAC database
   4. Inquire about any potential for Case Study of project

Request an Assessment