One approach. A performance model for every system.
Every EnergyIntel assessment runs on a BEF performance model — a physics-based representation of how much energy a system essentially needs, not a statistical estimate or an industry average. The standardized BEF approach is applied the same way to every system type; here is what each model covers.
What is the Benchmark Energy Factor?
The Benchmark Energy Factor (BEF) compares how much energy a system or facility actually uses against its Essential Energy — the amount it would need if it were operating with the best available technology and practices, including the losses that are genuinely unavoidable, derived from first principles. BEF is expressed as a ratio: the closer to 1.0, the closer a system runs to its essential minimum, and everything above that minimum is wasted energy.
Supported Performance Models
Click any model to see its scope, required inputs, reported outputs, and a typical use case.
Scope
Industrial vapour-compression refrigeration systems — ammonia, CO₂, and HFC — serving cold storage, food processing, and process cooling loads. Covers compressors, condensers, evaporators, and auxiliaries.
Inputs
- •Actual refrigeration energy
- •Product loading and unloading rate per zone
- •Weather (fetched automatically for the site)
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
Sample use case
A food-processing plant runs an ammonia refrigeration system through a seasonal production cycle. The model normalizes for changes in production load and ambient conditions, so a BEF improvement after a compressor upgrade reflects real efficiency gains rather than a cooler summer.
Scope
Whole-building refrigerated facilities — cold storage warehouses, distribution centres, blast freezers, and refrigerated food processing plants. Covers envelope, refrigeration plant, lighting, and auxiliary loads.
Inputs
- •Actual electric energy
- •Weather (fetched automatically for the site)
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
Sample use case
A 3PL cold-storage operator benchmarks 12 warehouses across climate zones. The model produces a facility-level BEF that lets the operator rank sites and prioritize capital upgrades without distortion from geography.
Scope
Centrifugal and positive-displacement slurry pumps used in mineral processing, tailings, and dredging applications. Covers pump, motor, drive, and associated piping losses.
Inputs
- •Slurry flowrate
- •Discharge pressure
- •Supply pressure
- •Solids content (Cw)
- •Actual energy
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
Sample use case
A mine site benchmarks its tailings pumping circuit against the BEF essential model. The analysis flags a throttled discharge valve as a major source of wasted energy, justifying a VFD retrofit.
Scope
Centrifugal pumping systems moving water or water-like fluids — municipal water and wastewater, HVAC, process cooling, irrigation. Covers pumps, motors, VFDs, and system curves.
Inputs
- •Flowrate
- •Discharge pressure
- •Supply pressure
- •Actual energy
- •Closed loops: temperature differential and thermal power
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
- •Static/friction classification
Sample use case
A municipal water utility benchmarks a booster pumping station. The model reveals that 60% of consumption is wasted energy, leading to a VFD upgrade and trim-wheel change that drops BEF from 2.47 to 1.89.
Scope
Fans and blowers for industrial ventilation, process air, combustion air, and dust collection. Covers fan, motor, drive, and duct system losses across pressure zones.
Inputs
- •Actual energy
- •Airflow per section
- •Inlet and outlet pressure per section
- •Air temperature and humidity per section
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
- •Pressure ratio
Sample use case
A manufacturing plant benchmarks its process-ventilation fans. The model isolates oversizing and throttling losses section by section, giving engineers a prioritized list of fans to retrofit first.
Scope
Activated sludge and related biological treatment plants. Covers headworks, aeration blowers, mixers, return-activated-sludge pumping, and solids handling.
Inputs
- •Influent flow
- •Electricity purchased
- •Influent BOD (at least one reading per period)
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
- •Per-stage essential energy
Sample use case
A regional water-reclamation plant benchmarks its aeration system. The model accounts for seasonal load variation, so the plant can credibly report verified savings from a fine-bubble diffuser retrofit.
Scope
Mechanical vapour compression heat pumps used for industrial process heating, hot water, and space conditioning. Covers compressor, condenser, evaporator, and auxiliary loads.
Inputs
- •Hot- and cold-side mass flows and temperatures
- •Actual compressor energy
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
Sample use case
A dairy plant installs an industrial heat pump to recover waste heat for process hot water. The model benchmarks the installed system against its Carnot-referenced ideal, giving clear visibility into remaining conservation potential.
Scope
The mechanical and electrical infrastructure supporting the IT load of a large standalone data centre: power distribution, cooling, heat rejection and air movement.
Inputs
- •Class (cooling mode of the IT equipment)
- •IT design capacity (P_IT)
- •Facility type
- •Province and site elevation
- •Operating hours
- •IT energy consumed
- •Gross electricity import
- •Site water consumed
- •Internal heat use and heat exported
- •Weather (fetched automatically for the site)
Outputs
- •Essential energy
- •BEF
- •Energy at risk
- •Essential and actual PUE
- •Reusable heat, reuse share and energy reuse factor
- •Benchmark Water Factor and WUE
- •Benchmark Carbon Factor and CUE
Sample use case
A colocation operator benchmarks a 5 MW air-cooled facility against the essential system for its climate, then verifies the saving after adding water-side economization.
BEF performance models in development
Currently in development — additional BEF performance models extending the approach to new sectors.
Cement Manufacturing Facilities
In developmentCement Kiln Process
In developmentPaper Machine Drying
In developmentOffice Buildings
In developmentDistrict Energy
In developmentGas Compressor Stations
In developmentGreenhouses & Horticulture
In developmentPotable / Drinking Water Plants
In developmentNon-Refrigerated Warehouses
In developmentLumber Drying Kilns
In developmentDon't see your system?
The BEF approach is expanding. Contact us about models on the roadmap or custom model development.