Industrial Newsbriefs

February 2014

Welcome to this edition of Industrial Newsbriefs, produced by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Please forward this issue to those of your colleagues interested in industrial energy efficiency. View archive 

While every URL in Industrial Newsbriefs is checked for accuracy prior to distribution, URLs may change and servers may temporarily fail to connect to working URLs.


ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Tools for the industrial energy detective
Identifying Energy Savings with Fingerprint Analysis” was published in the January 2014 issue of Maintenance Technology. Arkema, a chemical company in Calvert City, KY, significantly reduced the energy expenditure of its boilers by using an advanced energy analysis tool. “Fingerprinting” allows the operator to locate, eliminate and/or change wasteful processes, practices, and settings.

Voluntary performance label for industrial equipment

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), in cooperation with motor-driven equipment manufacturers and trade associations, is developing a voluntary performance labeling system for industrial equipment. The label will allow prospective purchasers of complex, motor-driven industrial equipment to compare relative efficiency using a set of carefully developed indices. To learn more, read the January 31, 2014, press release.

Energy efficiency improvements for smaller manufacturers
One Small Step for Energy Efficiency: Targeting Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers” is a new research report, published by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) on January 6, 2014. The report examines the state of energy efficiency for small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the U.S., and identifies barriers to improvement. Suggestions are made for how existing energy efficiency programs that serve these facilities can achieve the greatest impact.

Video: Best practices for plant floor energy optimization
An hour-long presentation on energy optimization for industrial plants was made available on the Energy Manager Today website on January 27, 2014. “Energy as Competitive Advantage: Best Practices for Plant Floor Energy Optimization” was presented at the Tennessee Energy Education Initiative Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit in July 2013.

New website for Superior Energy Performance (SEP)
Superior Energy Performance (SEP) unveiled a new website on January 14, 2014. SEP is a certification and recognition program for facilities that demonstrate energy management excellence and sustained energy savings. The program is built on the ISO 50001 energy management standard, and can help facilities of all sizes and in all manufacturing sectors establish energy targets and then track, maintain, and verify sustained improvements in performance. Participating facilities have achieved an average investment payback of 1.7 years.

POLICY AND LEGISLATION

New efficiency standards for metal halide lamps
On January 30, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy announced new efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures. The lamps have widespread commercial, municipal, and industrial applications; the new standards are expected to reduce harmful carbon pollution by up to 28 million metric tons over 30 years. To learn more, read the press release at energy.gov.

Manufacturing Innovation Institute announced
On January 15, 2014, a consortium of North Carolina companies and universities was selected to lead a manufacturing innovation institute for next generation power electronics. The institute, one of three manufacturing institutes proposed by President Obama in May 2013, will accelerate the research and development of wide bandgap semiconductor technologies. The technologies will increase the speed and efficiency of power electronic devices such as electric motors, consumer electronics, and devices that support the power grid.

PRESENTATIONS

Presentations Available Online from 6th Annual Northwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit
The 6th Annual Northwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit took place in Portland, Oregon on January 15, 2014. Hundreds of attendees from industry, utilities, state and federal government, and energy efficiency organizations participated in the all-day event. Presentations focused on a variety of topics related to industrial energy efficiency, and can be downloaded from the Summit website.

PUMPS AND MOTORS

The cost of pumping
The Cost of Pumping – Power Cost & Efficiency” was published in the February 2014 issue of Pumps & Systems. This article emphasizes the importance of pump efficiency measurements when calculating the total efficiency of a pump and motor system. The pump and motor can each act as a limiting factor; a simple average of the two does not suffice.

UTILITIES AND DISTRIBUTED ENERGY

Green tariff guide for utilities
Above and Beyond: Green Tariff Ideas for Traditional Utilities” was published in January 2014 by World Resources institute. It provides guidance for utilities to attract and retain industrial and commercial customers using green tariffs. Green tariffs allow the utility to increase the deployment of renewable energy while reducing costs, and are an important strategy for capturing an expanding demand for alternative energy choices.

Reduce costs and increase reliability with onsite energy
Business Energy Provides a Sound Strategy for Peak Shaving & Power Security,” published in the January-February issue of Business Energy, provides solutions for facilities to reduce their peak energy consumption using non-utility energy sources and local energy storage. Specific examples are provided of facilities that have adopted CHP, fuel cell, and/or generator systems.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND TRAININGS

Pacific Northwest

Northwest Food Processors Sustainability Summit
April 24, 2014, Portland, Oregon

The Northwest Food Processors Sustainability Summit has fast become the region's premier gathering of food processors, sustainability/environmental /energy experts and industry partners working to advance sustainability in the industry. Sessions will be focused on practical industrial applications of sustainability management practices. Experts and industry professionals will present real-life case studies, success stories and challenges. During the Summit you will be able to network with companies that are implementing sustainability programs/projects to share and learn from their experiences.

MORE TRAININGS IN INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

For a listing of other upcoming industrial energy efficiency trainings, visit the following websites:

Energy Events Calendar

NEEA Northwest Regional Training Calendar

Input Requested: Is there something else you would like to see in Industrial Newsbriefs? If you have thoughts or ideas for what you would like to see in this publication, please email suggestions to Talia Mathews at MathewsT@energy.wsu.edu . We strive to make this publication as useful and relevant as possible to you, our readers.


Subscribe Free

Past issues available here