Designing a Management Control System to Reduce Energy Footprint
This paper outlines the design of a Management Control System (MCS) for the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) aimed at reducing the energy footprint in Building 3. It begins by establishing an energy baseline using regression analysis and modeling methodologies, then details the completion of an Energy Mass Balance (EMB) to quantify energy flows within the building. The paper further identifies three categories of energy savings opportunities — people-based, process-based, and investment-based — and proposes practical measures for reducing energy consumption, including upgrading lighting systems, improving insulation, and increasing employee awareness. The MCS is presented as both a cost-reduction tool and an environmentally responsible strategy.
- Introduction: Energy's role in UTS operations and MCS rationale
- Objective: Goals of the MCS for Building 3
- Establishing an Energy Baseline: Baseline methods and factors affecting energy use
- Completing the Energy Mass Balance: Quantifying energy flows and planning EMB steps
- Estimating Energy Savings Opportunities: Three categories of energy savings strategies
- Opportunities to Reduce Energy Consumption in UTS Building 3: Practical reduction measures for the building
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper follows a clear, step-by-step framework — baseline, measurement, and opportunity identification — that mirrors real-world energy management practice and gives the argument logical momentum.
- It distinguishes among three categories of energy savings opportunities (people-based, process-based, and investment-based), providing concrete examples for each rather than relying on abstract claims.
- The paper grounds recommendations in cited authoritative sources, including Australian Government guidance and peer-reviewed engineering literature, lending credibility to its practical proposals.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates applied systems thinking: it moves from diagnosis (energy baseline and EMB) through forecasting (savings estimation methodologies) to prescription (specific reduction measures). This structured problem-solving approach — defining the current state, measuring flows, and then proposing targeted interventions — is characteristic of effective management and engineering case analyses.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction and objectives section that frames the problem. It then develops three analytical sections corresponding to sequential MCS design steps: establishing an energy baseline, completing an Energy Mass Balance, and estimating savings opportunities. A final practical section translates the analysis into actionable reduction strategies for Building 3. A reference list citing four sources closes the paper. Total length is moderate, appropriate for an undergraduate management or engineering course.
Introduction
In the contemporary world, most companies rely on energy to plan, manage, and execute their operations in accordance with the demands of the market and the industry. This makes energy the most vital aspect of production in business entities. Energy is crucial for running machines, recording information, executing communication activities, and providing lighting within a company. Since energy is essential to planning, managing, and executing roles within an organization, it is important for companies to decide how to minimize their energy footprint during production. Doing so helps cut down the overall cost of production and enhance profit and revenue levels at the end of the financial year.
It is therefore critical for UTS to develop a Management Control System (MCS) with the aim of reducing its energy footprint in Building 3. This MCS would enable UTS to cut down the cost of production by adopting an effective and efficient energy management approach.
Objective
The main aim of this Management Control System (MCS) is to reduce the cost of the energy footprint of UTS in Building 3. The MCS would also allow the entity to adopt cost-effective energy practices in the execution of its roles and responsibilities in accordance with the demands of the market and the industry. The new MCS design would be environmentally friendly, thereby contributing to the conservation of scarce natural resources and supporting the sustainability of the planet for future generations.
It is important for the organization to adopt more affordable energy measures, thereby reducing the overall cost of production. In the long run, the entity would be able to maximize its profits and revenues, facilitating organizational growth and development. This management control system would also focus on educating UTS employees and close organizational partners on how to minimize energy consumption and the consequential benefits of doing so.
References
Australian Government (2012). Energy Savings Measurement Guide: How to estimate, measure, evaluate, and track energy efficiency opportunities. Retrieved from
Eger, C., III. (2006). Integrating methods of statistical analysis to identify energy-saving opportunities. Environmental Quality Management, 15(3), 87–108. doi:10.1002/tqem.20096
Ekmanis, J., Zebergs, V., & Zeltins, N. (2010). Adaption of the general policy assessment methodology for managing the energy saving process. Energetika, (1), 1–7.
Kitamura, S., Mori, K., Ozaki, Y., Shindo, S., & Izui, Y. (2009). A method of estimating energy saving effect and its application to factory energy supply systems. Electrical Engineering in Japan, 168(4), 14–20. doi:10.1002/eej.20880
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