An efficiency proposal should start with a comparable operating baseline. A lower equipment rating can produce very different savings depending on running hours, electricity price and additional operating costs. This project planner turns those inputs into an annual electricity reduction, an annual cash comparison and a simple payback period, so you can see which assumption is driving the business case.

Efficiency project payback planner

Compare one operating change or equipment project with the current arrangement.

A simple annual cash comparison. It excludes finance, tax, discounting and changes in output. Use comparable operating assumptions.

What the result shows

Annual electricity reduction is the difference between current and proposed equipment demand multiplied by annual operating hours. The tool values that reduction at the entered electricity price and deducts additional annual operating cost. Simple payback divides the upfront cost by a positive annual net saving. If the model does not produce a positive annual saving, the result states that there is no positive payback on those inputs.

Prepare the information for this review

The labels in the tool describe the measurement or record needed for each input. The following checks help keep the entered information consistent with the case you intend to review.

• Upfront project cost (£): Enter a plain number in the unit shown, without a currency symbol or thousands separators. Keep the same measurement basis throughout the comparison and retain the source figure for checking.
• Current equipment demand (kW): Enter a plain number in the unit shown, without a currency symbol or thousands separators. Keep the same measurement basis throughout the comparison and retain the source figure for checking.
• Proposed equipment demand (kW): Enter a plain number in the unit shown, without a currency symbol or thousands separators. Keep the same measurement basis throughout the comparison and retain the source figure for checking.
• Annual operating hours: Enter a plain number in the unit shown, without a currency symbol or thousands separators. Keep the same measurement basis throughout the comparison and retain the source figure for checking.
• Electricity price (p/kWh): Enter a plain number in the unit shown, without a currency symbol or thousands separators. Keep the same measurement basis throughout the comparison and retain the source figure for checking.
• Additional annual operating cost (£): Enter a plain number in the unit shown, without a currency symbol or thousands separators. Keep the same measurement basis throughout the comparison and retain the source figure for checking.

Check the result against the source records

A simple annual cash comparison. It excludes finance, tax, discounting and changes in output. Use comparable operating assumptions.

Start with one case whose inputs you can trace back to the original records. Run the tool and compare its labels, units and dates with that example before preparing a wider review. If a value is uncertain, record the uncertainty in your working notes and resolve it with the person who holds the source information. A neatly presented result is useful only when the assumptions behind it are also clear.

Keep a copy and agree the next action

Use Download report to keep the written result and Download results CSV when you want to work with its records in a spreadsheet. Save inputs keeps a JSON file that can be restored into this same tool later. Editing an input hides the old result until you run the tool again, which helps avoid sharing an output that belongs to an earlier set of assumptions.

Where report emailing has been configured, Email my results lets you request a copy and send the same inputs and result to this site for follow-up about your request. The form explains who receives the copy and requires a completed security check. Check the recipient address carefully before sending. The email request uses the current result, so review the entered information before choosing that option.

For help with the next step, Explore specialist support.