The general objectives of energy management are to increase economic efficiency and optimise building use while minimising the use of resources to protect the environment and reduce consumption costs. So much for the definition. However, there is more to energy management, from the overarching strategic concept to the dedicated action in the property and plant. The core ideas are the improvement of economic efficiency and optimum plant and system utilisation as the basis for the implementation of energy and system optimisation measures.

In addition to the improvement achieved through the optimisation measures, the required comfort and process conditions as well as the current legal regulations must be complied with. Furthermore, permanent adjustments to the technical building equipment are an indispensable criterion due to changing operating conditions or changes in utilisation. In the area of cleanrooms in particular, the focus is on reducing energy consumption, constantly reviewing control strategies and minimising downtimes in addition to the technical specifications. The entirety of the services for the highly specific technical operation of such buildings, systems and properties according to energy science criteria with continuous optimisation of costs and benefits therefore includes the following aspects:

' Evaluation of relevant data
' Target/actual comparison of quality requirements
' Monitoring energy and water consumption
' Regular energy and status reports
' Monitoring and analysing consumption values
' Evaluation and optimisation of energy use
' Recording, analysing and advising on consumption
' Energy optimisation
' Monitoring

The implementation of cleanrooms and their operation has so far been closely aligned with the required specifications and requirements. Compliance with the cleanroom class and achieving the desired ISO class are the primary parameters to be achieved.

Not only due to short-term political developments, the focus is expanding and the field is being enlarged by further objectives. Sustainability and energy efficiency are not only possible boundary conditions, but also have a holistic influence on the operation and construction of such facilities. Two issues need to be considered here. Energy efficiency is a freely scalable concept that can be applied universally regardless of the technical depth. This means that treated air must fulfil significantly higher requirements, but the energy used for this is variable and therefore also subject to potential for improvement. Furthermore, energy-efficient operation should not be limited to individual systems; the upstream and downstream systems and the surrounding property must also be considered here.

Changing legal framework conditions, taxonomy, CO2 reduction, energy supply and increasing technical complexity require specialist expertise and an integrally organised organisation, which now goes far beyond the classic remit of a traditional HVAC engineer. Close co-operation between several specialists and specialist departments is the key to success here.

However, it is just as wrong to reverse the objective and define pure energy efficiency as an axiom.

Therefore, to summarise, function and the required quality level represent the standards to be achieved. However, the aim is to guarantee this with the best possible and highly efficient use of energy.