Collaborative, Targeted Assessments (CTAs) are provided to reinforce the information presented in training in the use of EERE BestPractices (BP) software tools. Plants that are selected for a CTA work with a DOE CTA Expert to evaluate industrial energy systems in operating facilities using the EERE BP training approach and software tools.

The collaborative, targeted assessment presents two primary benefits. Plant personnel have the opportunity to reinforce the information obtained while attending a training workshop. Assessment steps such as defining and implementing data gathering strategies, data entry into the software, and interpretation of the software results are all covered during the CTA. At completion of the CTA, plant personnel will have sufficient familiarity with the BP software tools and associated methodologies to work independently of the CTA expert and apply their knowledge to plant systems that were not covered during the course of the CTA.

The second benefit is that the plant will have energy efficiency opportunities identified. Since the teaching method used in the CTA is to apply the methods and software tools in the plant, a natural outcome of the CTA is that potential energy efficiency opportunities are identified. It is important to note that opportunity identification is not the same as project definition. The outcome of a pump CTA, for example, is to indicate that a pump system is currently operating at 20% efficiency while an optimal system would have an efficiency of 70%. This translates to a potential energy and cost savings, the magnitude of which will depend on the size of the system and the plant's electricity rate cost structure. The CTA does not in itself provide options, nor does it define projects to capture the energy savings opportunity. This is a task that must be performed independently by the plant personnel.