Set a Benchmark (a baseline from which measurements may be made)
1. Gather at least one years worth of energy bills - both electricity and heating bills (if they are separate)

• One year or more of electric and
• One year or more of fuel consumption/bills

2. Find out the buildings square footage (sq/ft), as well as roughly how much of the building is receiving heat.
3. Determine how many hours in the week the building is operating for and the average number of occupants during that time.
4. Walk the site - everywhere - and take pictures of everything, especially areas that you think might be efficiency troublemakers

Use Benchmarking Data to Prioritize Which Buildings to Tackle First 
1. Enter data into EPA Portfolio Manager: EPA Portfolio Manager to see what the most inefficient building in your community may be
To learn how to use EPA Portfolio Manager:

• Attend a webinar for more information about how to use Portfolio Manager:
• Contact Linda Darveau, Environmental Scientist at the EPA for assistance

Enetering Energy Data into Portolio Manager
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Conduct an Energy Audit
1. Select an Energy Auditor:

• NHSaves

2. Obtain Financing:

• Field Guide to NH’s Municipal Buildings & Energy Audit Guidelines

Develop an Energy Reduction Plan for a Specific Building(s) Based on an Energy Audit

Secure Required Funding/Financing for Efficiency Improvements

• Find a comprehensive list of incentives by state through DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Energy Efficiency) or see the links below 

• NH Core Utility Programs: Financial and Technical Assistance Programs for Municipal and School Energy Projects in NH  
• NH Pay for Performance (P4P) for energy efficiency projects funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

• Small grants for education, outreach and community energy projects through the New England Grassroots Environment Fund Small Grants Program 

• NH Community Development Finance Authority’s Municipal Energy Reduction Fund (MERF) for energy efficiency projects
• NH Department of Environmental Services Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) for water conservation

• Funding for energy audits and loans to improve and replace wastewater treatment facilities and collection systems through the New Hampshire Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (NH CWSRF)
• Energy Performance Contracts

Implement Energy-Saving Projects and Track Results

Review Benchmarking Resources

• Portfolio Manager: Guide for Current Users
• New Hampshire Handbook on Energy Efficiency & Climate Change, Volume II – Revised August 2009 - Provides an excellent overview of the benchmarking or energy inventory process as well as other elements of a "roadmap" to energy reductions in your town.
• Energy Star Webinars (free but registration required)

• The in's and out's of energy benchmarking from EPA's website. 
• New Hampshire Handbook on Energy Efficiency & Climate Change (Volume II – Revised August 2009), beginning at page 13 for a great overview on the process of conducting a benchmarking inventory and how to collect data.
• Various Resources at the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy’s State and Local Solution Center