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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

    Superior Energy Performance

    SEP certification—and the Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge and Program—distinguishes companies and facilities for their leadership in energy efficiency.

    Featured Plants

    Check out the five Texas plants that are SEP certified.

    Photo of representatives from Volvo Trucks and Nissan North America and EERE Deputy Assistant Secretary, Kathleen Hogan at the Alliance to Save Energy's Industrial Energy Efficiency Forum, May 17, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

    EERE Deputy Assistant Secretary, Kathleen Hogan (far right) presented awards to Volvo Trucks and Nissan North America in recognition of achieving SEP certification with conformance to ISO 50001 (Alliance to Save Energy's Industrial Energy Efficiency Forum, May 17, 2012, in Washington, D.C.).

    Photo of representatives from industrial companies certified to Superior Energy Performance displaying their awards at a recognition event with DOE and Texas Industries of the Future on Apr. 7, 2011 in Houston, Texas.

    The first companies certified to Superior Energy Performance display their awards at a recognition event with DOE and Texas Industries of the Future (Apr. 7, 2011 in Houston, Texas).

    Photo of representatives from CCP and Owens Corning and EERE Deputy Assistant Secretary, Kathleen Hogan at the World Energy Engineering Congress, Dec. 9, 2010 in Washington, D.C.

    EERE Deputy Assistant Secretary, Kathleen Hogan (far right) presented awards to CCP and Owens Corning in recognition of achieving SEP certification (World Energy Engineering Congress, Dec. 9, 2010 in Washington, D.C.).

    Industrial and commercial facilities can earn a certification from Superior Energy Performance (SEP) by voluntarily demonstrating continual improvement in energy efficiency. The U.S. program, launching in Fall 2012, provides a transparent system for verifying improvements in energy performance and management practices through application of the internationally accepted ISO 50001 energy management standard.

    Forward-thinking companies can elevate their sustainability practices and verify improvements in energy performance within their manufacturing facilities and supply chains. Companies participating in field demonstrations of SEP have helped to shape the program and ensure its relevance to facilities of all sizes and levels of experience.

    DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy partnered with the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing to develop SEP. Learn more by visiting the SEP program website, reading case studies, and reviewing the helpful resources below.


    Certification Requirements

    To earn SEP certification facilities must:

    1. Conform to the ISO 50001 energy management system standard

    2. Satisfy additional requirements defined in ANSI/MSE 50021, which includes verifying an improvement in energy performance using the SEP Measurement and Verification Protocol for Industry.


    Resources to Help Facilities

    Resources are available to manufacturers interested in SEP participation:

    • Certified Practitioners: Professionals certified to assist plants in implementing ISO 50001, conducting system assessments, and identifying energy efficiency opportunities.

    • System Assessment Standards: ASME standards for conducting energy efficiency assessments in specific energy systems—pumps, process heating, steam, and compressed air.

    • Energy Management Resources: Software tools and information resources that guide companies in implementing an energy management system.