合同能源管理（EPC——Energy Performance Contracting）：节能服务公司与用能单位以契约形式约定节能项目的节能目标，节能服务公司为实现节能目标向用能单位提供必要的服务，用能单位以节能效益、节能服务费或能源托管费支付节能服务公司的投入及其合理利润的节能服务机制。
EPC - energy performance contracting: an energy-saving service mechanism in which the energy-saving service company and the energy user agree on the energy-saving objectives of the energy-saving project in the form of contract. The energy-saving service company provides necessary services to the energy user in order to achieve the energy-saving objectives, and the energy user pays the investment and reasonable profits of the energy-saving service company with energy-saving benefits, energy-saving service fees or energy custody fees.