Method for reducing energy costs in an industrially operated facility. For a lasting and comprehensive reduction in the energy costs in an industrially operated facility, the invention provides for at least one of the energy flows of the facility, from its purchase, its conversion in at least one secondary process, its consumption in at least one core process, as far as its discharge from the facility, to be considered as a whole, taking account of the operational process sequences, and for potential cost reductions to be determined.