Effective O&M (Operations and Maintenance) is one of the most cost-effective methods for ensuring reliability, safety, and energy efficiency. Inadequate maintenance of energy-using systems is a major cause of energy waste in both the Federal government and the private sector. Energy losses from steam, water and air leaks, uninsulated lines, maladjusted or inoperable controls, and other losses from poor maintenance are often considerable. Good maintenance practices can generate substantial energy savings and should be considered a resource. Moreover, improvements to facility maintenance programs can often be accomplished immediately and at a relatively low cost.
O&M are the activities related to the performance of routine, preventive, predictive, scheduled, and unscheduled actions aimed at preventing equipment failure or decline with the goal of increasing efficiency, reliability, and safety.
Operational Efficiency represents the life-cycle cost-effective mix of preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance technologies, coupled with equipment calibration, tracking, and computerized maintenance management capabilities all targeting reliability, safety, occupant comfort, and system efficiency.
- Operations and Maintenance Best Practices Guide is available as a PDF.
- Continuous Commissioning Guidebook for Federal Energy Managers is available as a PDF.
Advanced metering is an effective means to determine energy usage and measure savings. Learn more about advanced metering at federal sites and the metering provision in the 2003 comprehensive energy bill.
It has been estimated that O&M programs targeting
energy efficiency can save 5% to 20% on energy bills without a significant
capital investment. From small to large sites, these savings can represent
thousands to hundreds-of-thousands of dollars each year, and many can
be achieved with minimal cash outlays.
