Energy accounting is a system used to measure, analyze and report the energy consumption of different activities on a regular basis.^[1] This is done to improve energy efficiency,^[2] and to monitor the environment impact of energy consumption.

Energy accounting is a system used in energy management systems to measure and analyze energy consumption to improve energy efficiency within an organization.^[2] Organisations such as Intel corporation use these systems to track energy usage.^[3]

Various energy transformations are possible. An energy balance can be used to track energy through a system. This becomes a useful tool for determining resource use and environmental impacts. How much energy is needed at each point in a system is measured, as well as the form of that energy. An accounting system keeps track of energy in, energy out, and non-useful energy versus work done, and transformations within a system. Sometimes, non-useful work is what is often responsible for environmental problems.^[4]

Energy returned on energy invested (EROEI) is the ratio of energy delivered by an energy technology to the energy invested to set up the technology.