Industrial Newsbriefs

September 2010

Welcome to this edition of Industrial Newsbriefs, produced by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Please forward this issue to those of your colleagues interested in industrial energy efficiency. View archive 

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INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY RESOURCE OF THE MONTH

Chilled Water System Analysis Tool

The Chilled Water System Analysis Tool (CWSAT) is a free online software tool that allows plant personnel to evaluate changes to existing equipment, including chillers, pumps, and towers, and calculates the energy and cost savings gained by implementing those changes. CWSAT is designed to help industrial energy coordinators, plant managers, and engineers quantify the potential benefits of chilled water system improvements in their manufacturing facilities.

FOOD PROCESSING

“How is Your Plant Performing: The One-Number Index,” written by Jim Seufert of the Northwest Food Processors Innovation Productivity Center (IPC), describes a unique method for reporting plant performance with one comprehensible matrix. The model takes into account plant objectives for six to eight key factors, including waste and energy intensity, and distills the results into a single number. Read this article in the August issue of The IPC Catalyst.

The Northwest Food Processors Association (NWFPA) Sustainability Working Group is an assemblage of industry leaders working to implement effective food processing sustainability standards. The group intends to provide standardized metrics, tools, and resources to assist food processors in the development of company-specific sustainability plans. For information, read “Sustainability Work-Group” on page 7 of The IPC Catalyst.

HVAC/R (HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING, AND REFRIGERATION)

"Cool Savings," by Nelson Longenecker, Vice President of Business Innovation, Four Seasons Produce, is a case study of the energy efficiency and sustainability of the country's first Energy Star warehouse, a 200,000 square foot facility in southeastern Pennsylvania. The company has experienced very large savings in energy use (and costs) and a similarly impressive reduction in the size of its carbon footprint and the amount of company wastes that are not diverted. See this case study

"Green Dividends" was co-authored by Elaine Aye, LEED AP O+M, Principal, Green Building Services Inc., and Training Faculty Member, USGBC, and Ted Spear, P.E., Senior Consultant, Building Management Team, Green Building Services. This is a case study of the renovation of the 200 Market Building, a commercial facility in Portland, Oregon. The renovation focused on sustainability and high efficiencies to save money, and keep occupation rates high; both have been achieved. The overhaul of the building and its systems has resulted in LEED Gold certification for existing buildings. Certification for Platinum LEED Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is being sought. See this case study

ENERGY AUDITS

"Efficiency Evaluations," by Carol Brzozowski, is a five-web-page article describing the auditing process including the different types of audits, the advantages, paybacks, and more. While designs for new buildings seem to be highlighted in the article title’s tag line, the energy-efficiency potential of the country’s existing building stock is what is primarily addressed. See this article in Distributed Energy, July/August 2010

"Energy Audits in HVAC" was written by Barb Checket-Hanks, Service & Maintenance Editor, Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News. This article describes energy auditing from the point of view of the HVAC company. This interesting article is in Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News, August 16, 2010

ENERGY LEGISLATION

EPA Proposes New Rules for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Permits
On August 12, 2010, the U.S. EPA proposed rules to help major industrial facilities acquire Clean Air Act permits for newly planned facilities and/or expansions which increase overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The rule is designed to work in conjunction with the GHG Tailoring rule, finalized last year. To learn more, read the press release.

NEWS

Corporations Complete GHG Reporting Trial Run
More than 60 companies recently completed a road test of two international greenhouse gas protocol standards. The standards, developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, provide methods to account for emissions associated with individual products across their life-cycles and of corporations across their value chains. To learn more, visit the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative website.

GRANTS AND FUNDING

Photovoltaic (PV) Manufacturing Initiative
Opportunity #: DE-FOA-0000259
Response Due: 10/5/2010
The PV Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI) is intended to accelerate the coordination of stakeholders and fund technology development efforts across the solar industry and, with other state and federal policy incentives, facilitate the development of a strong PV manufacturing industry and supply chain in the U.S. The ultimate goals of this initiative are to support the creation of a robust U.S. PV manufacturing base, develop a highly trained workforce with the critical required skills, and speed the implementation of new cutting edge technologies. Toward that end, the Department of Energy is interested in receiving applications covering a broad range of technologies and development models which can meet the PVMI goals.

Assistance to High Energy Cost Rural Communities
Opportunity #: RD-RUS-HECG10
Response due: September 8, 2010
USDA’s Rural Utilities Service High Energy Cost Grant Program offers financial assistance to provide or improve energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities serving rural communities with home energy costs exceeding 275 percent of the national average.

Renewables - California
Southern California Edison Co. seeks up to 250 MW renewable energy contracts (including energy, green attributes, capacity attributes and resource adequacy benefits) from generation owners with qualifying in-state facilities of 20 MW or less in size. Responses due 9/8/10. For more info, contact George Wiltsee at george.wiltsee@sce.com

ON-SITE POWER

"Micro-Perks" is a four-web-page article by Dan Rafter, describing the trend toward including natural gas-powered microturbines in onsite power plants located in large office, residential, and industrial buildings. See this article in Distributed Energy, July/August 2010

REFRIGERATION

“Management of Change” is a feature article in the current issue of The Cold Front, the electronic newsletter of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium (IRC) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The article discusses the management of change in industrial refrigeration systems, especially those that are covered under the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. To read this article, download Vol. 10, No. 2 of The Cold Front from the IRC website

RESEARCH

RFI - Advanced Hydropower Technology Development and Deployment
The Department of Energy and the Bureau of Reclamation are requesting input from the public on new, advanced hydropower technologies that are ready for demonstration and testing, or that are worthy of additional research and development investments. The term "advanced technology" means products that are not already widely available commercially and that offer substantial energy and environmental benefits to renewable energy portfolios in the U.S. For more information or to respond to this RFI, go to fania.gordon@go.doe.gov .

RESOURCES

ITP launches new home page; 2008 IMPACTS report released The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) recently redesigned its web site to be more user-friendly. The new design incorporates comments and feedback from internal and external users, and features a clean, organized, and simple design based on the tasks that its stakeholders perform regularly. Visit the new home page

IMPACTS: Industrial Technologies Program: Summary of Program Results for FY 2008, released on August 20, 2010, outlines in detail the ITP’s activities and achievements for the year 2008. The ITP works in partnership with industry to help reduce industrial energy use, carbon emissions, and waste while boosting productivity and economic competitiveness. The IMPACTS report summarizes some of these benefits including energy savings, waste reduction, increased productivity, lowered carbon dioxide and air pollutant emissions, and improved product quality. It also provides an overview of activities of two ITP technical assistance programs: Industrial Assessment Centers and the Save Energy Now initiative. Read the full report

SOLAR POWER

A Ford plant in Wayne, Michigan will employ a photovoltaic array and lithium ion batteries as part of an effort to utilize renewable energy and save electricity costs. The electricity will be utilized in the manufacture of the 2012 Ford Focus and Ford Focus Hybrid vehicles. The company says it will save roughly $160,000 a year in energy costs once a second, smaller system is installed to power plant lighting systems. For more information, read “Solar Array, Lithium Cells to Power Part of Ford Focus Plant” on the GreenBeat website.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND TRAININGS

Energy Efficiency Projects: Overcoming Internal Barriers to Implementation
Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
This session will focus on overcoming internal barriers to the funding and/or implementation of energy efficiency projects. Gary Satler, the Sherwin-Williams Company, and Walter Brockway, Alcoa, Inc., will be featured presenters.

Steam System Assessment
September 14, 2010, Pocatello, ID
The Steam System Assessment Workshop covers the operation of typical steam systems and discusses methods of system efficiency improvement. The one-day workshop is designed for energy managers, steam system supervisors, engineers, and operations level workers who have steam system responsibilities in industrial and institutional plants.

The 2010 NWPPA Northwest Innovations Conference
September 19-22, 2010, Spokane, WA
This conference, sponsored by the Northwest Public Power Association, is intended for utilities marketing, communication, energy services, and renewable energy employees, as well as any employee or board member with an interest in these areas.

Design of Ndiv Refrigeration Systems for Peak Performance and Efficiency
September 20-24, 2010
Madison, WI
By attending this course you will increase your understanding and knowledge of ammonia refrigeration design principles and practices. The course is designed for owners, plant operators, supervisors, engineers, and designers.

Process Heating Systems Management
September 22, 2010, Downey, California
This 1-day workshop includes an introduction to process heating and process heating equipment such as furnaces, ovens, dryers, heaters, kilns, etc., used by the industry. Application of the Process Heating Assessment and Survey Tool (PHAST) is also covered.

Energy Efficiency of Chillers and Chilled Water Systems: Hands-On Workshop
September 22-23, 2010, Longview, WA
Those involved in the service and troubleshooting of chilled water system equipment will find knowledge of instruments and test meters to be an essential skill. It is the purpose of the hands-on training portion of this course to develop your skill with this equipment, as well as provide actual data collection from operating equipment.

Field Measurements for Industrial Pump Systems
September 28-29, 2010, Eugene, OR
This course focuses on the common measurements of flow rate, pressure, and electrical data. A host of application issues associated with test devices are emphasized. Other issues covered include: time coordination of measurements, known sources of error and their potential impact, estimating parameters that can't be measured, and conducting hands-on measurements and converting the measured data.

Compete Smart: Montana Manufacturing Conference
October 7-8, Billings, MT
Capitalize on opportunities for growth & sustainability in breakout tracks covering essentials like differentiating in new/emerging markets, understanding the global marketplace, gaining from energy efficiencies, exploring government contracting, developing a leadership style that supports a creative, committed team, and more.

71st Conference on Glass Problems
October 19-20, 2010, Ohio State University
Attendees from around the world will meet for two days and discuss the latest innovations and solutions to manufacturing issues and the future of the glass industry.

Waste Heat Management in the Glass Industry
October 21, 2010, in conjunction with the 71st Conference on Glass Problems
Ohio State University
Workshop attendees and presenters will share, discuss, and promote Waste Heat Management technologies to increase glass industry sustainability. Separate registration will be required.

MORE TRAININGS IN INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

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

Energy Events Calendar
Northwest Regional Training Calendar
U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Best Practices Training Calendar

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