#5. How to reduce energy cost when CAPEX is limited
A lot of energy costs can be saved at manufacturing plant without CAPEX.
To generate or not to generate – a multi-million dollar question
In the view of growing electricity prices and time-sensitive tariffs numerous vendors around offer on-site electricity generation and storage. Should your company do it? Are you in business of electricity generation? Prior to going into technical and financial details of different solutions, I suggest you ask yourself a more basic, strategic question: if you are [...]
Managerial oversight may forever hide energy waste
Amnesty to prior energy waste unlocks immense energy cost reduction potential.
What makes energy efficiency projects fail?
We all agree that Energy Management is important, even C-levels agree. Still too often it's not done. Why is that? This 2003 article - Overcoming Barriers to Effective Energy Management in Industrial Settings - names several barriers which I list below with my comments : Lack of Organizational Commitment If senior management is not committed to [...]
How has 3M Canada cut energy use by 32%? Part 6: 3 tips to succeed with energy projects from 3M
In this post we shall conclude describing how 3M has achieved outstanding energy cost reduction results. These publication has resulted from interview with Andrew Hejnar, Energy Manager of 3M Canada. This post completes the story started in previous publications: Part 1: How does 3M take big energy decisions Part 2: Energy standards increase savings Part [...]
How has 3M Canada cut energy use by 32%? Part 2: Energy standards increase savings
In this post we continue describing how 3M has achieved outstanding energy cost reduction results. These publication has resulted from interview with Andrew Hejnar, Energy Manager of 3M Canada. This post follows the previous publication: Part 1: How does 3M take big energy decisions 3M adheres to best practices to increase energy [...]
Golden Practices in Industrial Energy Management – Executive Summary of Energy Pathfinder Research Initiative report by CME
If you seek a list of low cost energy efficiency improvements in process energy management in manufacturing, then this post is for you. This post summarizes best practices for process energy management in selected industries as identified by Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) through an Energy Pathfinder Research Initiative. The goal of this project was to identify [...]
How to spot a lie in energy saving report
Managers and executives can benefit immensely from clarity about energy consumption and savings, as well as risk costly mistakes from its absence. Despite loud claims, most M&V systems create more confusion and delusion, than clarity. Here are recommendations on what to watch for in an M&V reports and software to avoid making costly investment mistakes. [...]
How to help CFO approve your energy project and keep healthy margins?
Corporations routinely require energy projects to meet a 2 year simple payback threshold, which is another way of requesting a 50% return. Same corporations rarely enjoy returns in excess of 10% in their core business. Are CFOs mean to energy projects, plain stupid, or what? - Unlikely. Slow thinkers do not make it to corner offices. [...]
Which has to come first: Energy metering or Energy Audit?
Energy audit requires metered data. At least if client expects results that can be presented in the boardroom, not just general considerations. On the other hand, installation of meters takes time and money. On the third hand, if I had one, incentives on installation of meters are only available within M&T framework, which can logically [...]