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Best Practices in Energy
Management
With energy costs sky high and competition continuing to
increase, business owners everywhere are looking for ways to reduce
energy consumption. A successful energy management system not only
helps save energy in the short-term, but should be a long-range goal
for most businesses. Effective energy management programs guide
important decisions about equipment purchases, establish operational
procedures that ensure greater energy efficiency, and implement
policies that encourage energy-saving behavior.
In short, effective energy management is good business. In
addition to saving on energy costs, benefits of an energy management
program include:
Operations and Maintenance: Reduced maintenance and labor
costs, lower water consumption, decreased cooling loads, less need
for treatment chemicals and reduced material purchases.
Production: Increased production levels and reduced waste,
better production reliability and lower product defects, and shorter
process or cycle times.
Environment: Less pollution, reduced hazardous waste,
lower levels of wastewater and associated cost reductions in
wastewater treatment and improved corporate image.
Workplace: Improved workplace safety, reduced noise
levels, better indoor air quality and improved employee commitment
and morale.
Elements of a Successful Energy Management Program
A successful energy management program involves the entire
organization. Better long-term results are achieved when the energy
management program is integrated with other management systems, such
as quality, safety and environmental processes. An ideal energy
management program should include:
- A system for monitoring energy usage over time
- Processes for assessing energy performance
- An action plan for continuous improvement that includes
periodic performance evaluation against set targets
- A policy to evaluate and invest in energy-efficient
technology, along with resources and staff to implement the
technology
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed
energy management guidelines that include the best practices of
leading environmental performers. By following these guidelines,
companies can improve energy efficiency and gain a competitive edge.
Make a Commitment. Organizations that make a commitment to
allocate staff and funding achieve continuous improvement. To
establish an energy program, form a dedicated energy team and
institute an energy policy.
Assess Performance. Understanding current and past energy
use helps organizations identify opportunities to improve
performance. Periodically evaluate energy use for all major
facilities and functions to establish a baseline for measuring
future efficiency efforts. Key aspects include data collection and
management, baselining and benchmarking, and analysis and
evaluation.
Set Goals. Setting clear and measurable goals is critical
for understanding intended results, developing effective strategies
and reaping financial gains. These goals guide daily decision-making
and are the basis for tracking and measuring progress. Communicating
goals can motivate staff to support energy management efforts.
Create an Action Plan. With goals in place, your
organization is now poised to develop a road map to improve energy
performance. Successful organizations use a detailed action plan to
implement energy performance measures. Unlike the energy policy, the
action plan is regularly updated (usually annually) to reflect
recent achievements, changes in performance and shifting priorities.
A good place to start is to determine defining technical steps and
targets, and by determining individual roles and resources
Implement the Action Plan. Reaching your goals frequently
depends on the awareness, commitment, and capability of the people
who will implement the projects defined in your action plan. The
first step is to implement the technical aspects of your action
plan. However, there's more to it than that.
- Create a communication plan to deliver targeted information
about your energy management program to key audiences.
- Raise awareness by building support at all levels of your
organization for energy management initiatives and goals.
- Use training, access to information, and transfer of
successful practices, procedures and technologies to expand the
capacity of your staff.
- Create incentives that motivate staff to improve energy
performance.
- Use the tracking system developed for the action plan to
regularly track and monitor progress.
Evaluate Progress. Conduct formal reviews of both energy
use data and action plan activities, and compare this data to your
performance goals. Evaluation of information gathered during the
formal review process is used by many organizations to create new
action plans, identify best practices and set new performance goals.
Recognize Achievements. Recognizing energy management
achievements is a proven step in sustaining momentum and support for
your program. It motivates staff and brings positive exposure to the
energy management program. Receiving recognition from outside
sources validates the importance of the energy management program to
both internal and external stakeholders, as well as providing
positive exposure for the organization as a whole.
Source: Dave Reim, vice president of product development,
Questline
18 Tips for Saving Home
Energy During Summer
Home energy costs will rise with the temperature this summer as
tightening natural gas supplies put upward pressure on electricity
prices. To reduce energy usage nationwide while helping consumers
save on home energy bills, the U.S. Department of Energy and the
Alliance to Save Energy have joined forces on a year-long Powerful
$avings campaign. The new campaign cites the following tips on smart
energy practices and energy-efficiency home improvements:
8 Smart Energy Practices
- Maintain your cooling system. Clean or replace AC filters
monthly or as needed, and keep both outdoor and indoor air
conditioner coils clean. Dirt buildup on the indoor coil is the
single most common cause of poor operating efficiency.
- Reduce the cooling load by shading east and west windows.
Delay heat-producing activities (such as dish washing) until
evening. Close curtains during the day, and install awnings on
south-facing windows. Plant shade trees or vines.
- During the cooling season, keep your house closed tight in the
daytime. If practical, ventilate at night either naturally or with
fans.
- Avoid running a dehumidifier at the same time as the air
conditioner. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and
force the air conditioner to work harder.
- Turn off your computer when you are done using it; activate
the "sleep" feature so the machine powers down when on but not in
use for a while. When you leave a room, turn off the lights and
all other energy-using equipment.
- Shift energy-intensive tasks such as laundry and dish washing
to off-peak energy demand hours to increase electricity
reliability during heat waves; do full loads when you run washers,
dryers and dishwashers.
- Switch to cold water washing of laundry in top-loading,
energy-efficient washing machines to save energy and up to $63 a
year-detergents formulated for cold water get clothes just as
clean. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load.
- Keep lamps or TVs away from the thermostat. The heat they
generate will cause your air conditioner to run longer.
10 Energy-Efficiency Improvements
- Get the most energy-efficient air conditioner you can afford.
Look for a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) 14 or higher
on central systems and the Energy Star label on room units.
- Save up to 10 percent a year with a programmable thermostat
that automatically adjusts the temperature by 10 to 15 percent for
the hours that the house is unoccupied.
- Ceiling and other fans provide additional cooling and better
circulation so you can raise the thermostat and cut down on air
conditioning costs. Energy Star-certified ceiling fans move air up
to 20 percent more efficiently than conventional models. Look for
ceiling fans that use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to
save even more.
- Sufficient insulation can reduce cooling costs up to 30
percent. Start with the attic, followed by exterior and basement
walls, floors and crawl spaces. Insulate and seal attic air ducts,
too. For more information, see http://www.simplyinsulate.com/
- Plug energy leaks by caulking and weather stripping all seams,
cracks and openings to the outside.
- The Efficient Windows Collaborative (http://www.efficientwindows.org/)
explains how high-performance Energy Star windows can reduce
average cooling costs from 15 to 35 percent in central and
southern climate zones.
- Finance energy-efficiency investments when refinancing your
mortgage to take advantage of low interest rates.
- Cut utility bills by up to 30 percent with air conditioners,
major appliances, lighting and electronics that have the Energy
Star label.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent
bulbs, which use one-fourth the energy and last up to seven times
longer. Replace halogen torchiere fixtures with compact
fluorescent torchieres that use 60-80 percent less energy, produce
more light and stay cooler.
- For outdoor lighting, consider combining energy-efficient
light bulbs with motion sensors to provide security while reducing
energy use. Indoors, use dimmers, timers, or occupancy/motion
detectors or timers.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy and the Alliance to Save
Energy's Powerful $avings Campaign.
"Build Green" Introduces
Building Practices to Conserve Energy
More than 200 architects, engineers, builders and interested
residents attended the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities' Build
Green Conference on April 10. Numerous speakers presented
information about how "green" building techniques preserve the
environment while saving on energy costs.
"As building green becomes more mainstream, we're excited to
share information on increased energy efficiencies," said George
Powell, director of economic development and retail services, BPU.
"With many new technologies already in use-such as wind energy and
sustainable design-and hundreds of options for making homes and
businesses more energy efficient, more and more people are taking
advantage of the benefits these technologies deliver."
The conference provided a full day of speakers and events to
educate about electrical energy and green development, including
site planning, construction methods and materials. Speakers included
Mayor Reardon and representatives from the American Public Power
Association and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban
Development, among many others. Presentation topics included
remodeling energy efficiently; building to maximize light and other
natural elements; new local programs for curbside recycling; using
natural resources around a construction site; water conservation;
Kansas Energy Efficiency Programs low-cost loans; and much more.
More than 70 exhibits provided a closer look at some of the
materials used in energy-efficient building. The event included a
tour of a local green-built facility.
"We understand that saving energy is as important as making
energy," said Don Gray, general manager, BPU. "Energy efficiency
directly results in less demand on our power stations, fewer
emissions and lower utility bills. That's what Build Green is all
about."
Tap Water Vs. Bottled
Did you know that the bottled water many people buy (for as much
as $10 per gallon) may be identical to the water that flows from the
tap? Up to 40 percent of the bottled water sold in the United States
comes from a municipal water source. Consumers who buy this water
are paying hundreds to thousands of times more for repackaged
municipal water that costs pennies per gallon from the tap.
Bottled water is regulated by the FDA as a food, while municipal
water is regulated by the EPA. The FDA's standards apply only to
interstate sales, which amount to 30-40 percent of the water sold.
Water packaged and sold within the same state are subject only to
that state's requirements, which may or may not be as strict as the
FDA's standards. The bottled water industry uses clever marketing to
convince consumers that the quality and purity of bottled water is
higher than a municipal water supply-but it isn't necessarily so.
The chart below details some of the differences between tap water
and bottled water regulations.
| Tap Water Regulated by EPA |
Bottled Water Regulated by FDA |
| Can't have E. coli or fecal coliform bacteria. |
A certain amount of any bacteria is allowed. |
| Filtered and/or disinfected. |
No federal filtration/disinfection requirements. |
| Drinking water standard violations are enforced. |
Bottled water in violation of standards can still be sold.
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| Water must be tested by certified labs. |
No certified lab testing required. |
|
Tap water results must be reported to state
officials. |
No tap water reporting required. |
| Water operators must be certified. |
Bottled water plant operators do not need to be
certified. |
| Must provide customers with annual water report, including
source of water. |
No public right-to-know requirements. Not required to
report source or treatment methods. |
| Costs pennies a day. |
Cost can vary form .80 to $10.00 per gallon. |
| Chlorine residual must be maintained to prevent bacterial
growth. |
No disinfectant to kill bacteria
required. |
Source: Iowa Association of
Municipal Utilities Newsletter, August 2007.
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