A prospect informed about a possible massive cost of compressed air leaks responded: “What leaks? I do not hear hissing noise from compressed air leaks on the floor.” Plant manufactures gravel. Production noise is deafening. To hear compressed air leak would be a disaster, not only for energy bill, but likely for the whole [...]
A common belief is that if plant is equipped with efficient machines it runs efficiently. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Efficiency of components does not equate to efficiency of the whole plant. Common reason for utility waste by efficient machines: Misuse: compressed air used instead of blowers or for cooling, oversized motors, excessive [...]
We often hear: "Our plant runs at top energy efficiency because we use these procedures and settings and our efficient equipment is fully operational." Just how often is this true? With all due respect to maintenance and operational staff, recommendations of a proper energy audit are based on direct observation of operations and lots [...]
A lot of energy costs can be saved at manufacturing plant without CAPEX.
Complex energy audit does not look at energy alone. It considers how energy use affects core business - production, quality, scrap, employee productivity.
What is energy audit? Energy audit is a consulting project that finds out how your plant can maintain stable production and quality, while using less utilities - electricity, natural gas and water. An audit worth its fees relies on extensive direct measurements, detailed interviews with production and maintenance managers and comparison of energy consumption [...]
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 power generation solutions, I suggest you ask yourself a strategic question: Are you [...]
We continue industrial refrigeration optimization project aimed at energy consumption reduction without compromise of refrigeration capacity. At first stage we study the system. Study through direct observation and through analysis of directly measured energy consumption data on all parts of the refrigeration system - from compressors to condenser fans and pumps. This data in combination [...]
Today I had the most pleasant meeting at owners office of our manufacturing client. I experienced deep satisfaction when plant manager bragged about results of projects to the owner - lighting, grants, utility audit, compressed air system audit, changes in water supply, upcoming refrigeration optimisation and monitoring. And a grey-haired owner said: "I am happy with [...]
Various terms are used in relation to collecting and processing of energy consumption data. Some of the more common terms are submetering, energy management information system, monitoring and targeting (M&T), measurement and verification (M&V). Although these terms relate to overlapping activities, they are not equivalent in content, cost and, most importantly, in value for business. [...]
