Systems and program product for managing/assessing heat exchanger network energy efficiency and retrofit for an industrial facility, are provided. An embodiment of a system can include a heat exchanger network analysis and design computer and heat exchange network analysis and design program product configured to cause the heat exchange network analysis and design computer to perform various operations including those for determining an optimal heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence extending between a current heat exchanger network retrofit project satisfying a current desired waste energy recovery goal and a future heat exchanger network retrofit project satisfying the final waste energy recovery goal. The heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence can be configured so that each subsequent project within the heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence does not contradict any of the previous projects within the heat exchanger network retrofit projects sequence.