Although your staff can identify many of these opportunities, they may not be current on the industry best practice. Independent professionals can provide your best energy analysis resource. They may specialize in your industry type, a particular system found in your facility, or be energy efficiency generalists.

 

Doing your own analysis - The Industrial Assessment Program has developed a comprehensive energy analysis guides for systems that are typical in most industries (boilers, compressed air, motors, drives, etc.).  All industrial energy users will find these guides useful in determining if there is efficiency opportunity available or when they work with an independent energy auditor.  The Industrial Assessment Program Guide indicates it is for small and medium size manufacturers yet is useful for the largest industries since it addresses efficiency opportunities in common industrial systems. The Industries of the Future program provides analysis tools that are useful in evaluating how to apply the best available practices for energy using systems in your facility.

 

Other self - analysis tools - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  sponsors the Energy Star program that promotes energy efficient equipment and practices nationwide.  They have developed industry energy analysis tools that provide energy analysis and benchmarking guides for systems that are typical in most industries (boilers, compressed air, motors, drives, refrigeration etc.).  All industrial energy users will find these guides useful in determining if there is efficiency opportunity available.

 

Looking for low and no cost opportunities - Assign employees an area or system in the facility and ask them to identify all the opportunities that correspond to the lists on this web site. Ask your employees to list all energy, resource or production efficiency opportunities that they have noticed. Walk around the plant when it is not in operation. Listen for air leaks, steam trap venting or motor operation (pumps, lifts or fans).

 

Reviewing energy use - Make a table of the metered energy use by fuel for each month of the year. Sum the annual energy use by fuel type. If you can gather metered data from sub-sections of the facility that are distinct processes or areas, your low-cost energy savings potential may be greater. Compare patterns in annual and monthly consumption to previous years. Look for patterns that are either seasonal or production related. Software that automatically loads this data from your meter or sub-meters can alarm you in real time of variances in energy use that area out of the norm or costly. There are contractors that can affordably help you implement, or even provide, this metered energy use responsiveness. Try to discern possible causes of any abnormal consumption patterns and take action. Establish a team of employees who review this data together and share information about operations that can lead to solutions.

 

Choosing an independent professional – Make sure you contract with a firm registered to conduct business in Oregon. If your systems are complex you may require that they also employ Registered Professional Engineers. The Bonneville Power Administration business list of energy efficiency and industry energy analysis professionals helps you shorten the time it takes to find a service provider. This list is not comprehensive. You may have design engineers that have worked in your facility that are qualified to conduct an energy analysis.

 

Oregon Department of Energy Industrial Services - Oregon’s work with industry includes direct services (tax credits, loans, third party review) and referral to others with expertise that meets the efficiency needs of industry. Oregon Department of Energy technical staff are available to provide presentations and independent third party review of an industries energy policy, strategies, specific energy efficiency project plans or energy analysis reports. Emphasis is on industries or technologies where significant energy savings may result and the approach is transferable to many other industries. The Oregon Department of Energy does not provide energy engineering, energy analysis/audits, equipment specification, controls diagnosis or contractor performance reviews.

 

Oregon Industrial Assessment Center – The Industrial Assessment Center is a member of a national consortium of centers sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Faculty of Oregon State University´s Mechanical Engineering Department direct graduate engineering students in conducting energy and waste audits of small industry with fewer than 500 employees. The have conducted over 500 industry audits throughout the Pacific Northwest in the past fifteen years. The service is at no-cost and a comprehensive system by system report is provided. To schedule an audit contact Greg Wheeler PhD at Oregon State University, Bachelor Hall 344, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, telephone: 541-737-2515

 

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Electric League of the Pacific Northwest  -   The project developed by these partners provides services for developing ideal motor-management practices in industry, which result in lower operating costs, greater reliability and reduced production downtime.  The Electric League has commissioned highly experienced field consultants to personally tailor motor-effectiveness information and services to client-company needs. They will work with motor analysis tools, repair guides and specifications, sample procurement policies, case studies, on-site motor testing and staff training.

 

Oregon State University Motor Laboratory –The Motor Systems Resource Facility (MSRF) was initiated in late 1993 by a consortium of sponsors to meet an identified, growing need for the industrial customer of power utilities. The focus of the facility is its testing laboratory in which electrical machines, adjustable speed drives and variable speed generators, and their related converters and controls can be evaluated. In addition to testing to recognized industrial standards, the facility is intended as a source of advice, information, reference and instruction in issues and equipment related to electrical machines and their operation.

 

Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) - This is a program of the Department of Commerce´s National Institute of Standards and Technology.  OMEP partners federal support with state and local organizations to deliver services which address the critical and often unique needs of area manufacturers. In addition, OMEP is developing common tools and resources to address recurring and consistent challenges faced by all manufacturers nationwide.