Energy Conservation

• Energy Treasure Hunt Guide. Simple Steps to Finding Energy Savings – by EPA
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
• Consortium for Energy Efficiency Industrial Strategic Energy Management Initiative
• Developing and Implementing an Energy Management Plan (PowerPoint by Sanford Associates)
• Optimizing Your Energy Management Program (PowerPoint by Utility Analysts, Inc. and Engineering Resource Group)
• Innovative Applications for Reducing Energy Use in Industries (PowerPoint by Nissan North America)
• Energy Efficiency Best Practices Case Study – The Cooper Tire Company (PowerPoint by Cooper Tire)
• Best Practices – Tighter Building Envelope (PowerPoint by MS Chapter of US Green Building Council)
• Best Practices – Technologies for Monitoring and Controlling Energy Use (PowerPoint by Engineering Resource Group)
• Funding Opportunities for Energy Efficiency and Environmental Projects (PowerPoint by MS Development Authority, Energy Division)
• Resources and Tools for Energy Management Programs (PowerPoint by MS Development Authority Energy Division)

E3 Program

Energy Audit 

Combined Heat and Power or Cogeneration

• Basic Information from EPA 
• Information from Energy.gov

Alternative Energy 

• The end of oil?

LED Exit Signs 

• LED Exit Signs Info Sheet by Energy Star

Industrial Lighting 

• Enhancing lighting efficiency is one of the easiest ways to lower energy bills. When planning or replacing lighting, consider the types of lights, the location, the lighting conditions, the appropriate lamp technology, the correct control systems, and other components of a commercial lighting system.Here are few tips for optimizing the lighting of your business while reducing your electric costs.
  • Replace incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent lighting indoors and outdoors. CFL is almost four times as efficient as incandescent bulbs and lasts about 12 times longer
  • For outdoor lights, use a timer or photocell so they turn off automatically during the daylight hours
  • For indoor lights, adjust lighting levels to your needs with three-way lamps, dimmer switches for overhead lights, and task lighting
  • Use 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with T5 or T8 lights with reflective backing on the fixture and electronic ballasts
  • Take advantage of natural light by placing work areas near windows
  • Install occupancy sensors, so lights go off automatically in unoccupied room
• Energy Efficient Lighting
• Newest Technology for Energy Efficient Lighting

Air Compressor

• Compressed air is one of the most expensive components of a business or plant that consumes energy. In facilities that require compressed air, approximately 10% of the energy used in that facility is used by the compressor. By taking a few simple steps to control an air compressor’s consumption of energy, there could be significant savings for your business.
  • You can reduce compressed air costs by analyzing compressor operation and reducing leaks.
  • Use a systems approach while operating and maintaining a compressed air system.
  • Compressors can be staged with controls to optimize performance.
  • Implement a company-wide compressed air management policy to eliminate unnecessary uses, fixing leaks and synchronizing use with supply and demand.
  • Smaller compressors can be used to operate during unoccupied periods.
• Compressed Air Energy Savings Projects

Motors

• Increasing motor efficiency and taking measures to reduce the amount of energy it requires to run a motor can directly impact the bottom line of your business. By replacing inefficient motors with premium efficient motors equates to significant cost savings over the life of the motor, not to mention the additional benefits of reduced down-time and increased productivity and reliability. Here are few suggestions that can help you achieve greater motor effienciency:
  • When purchasing a new motor choose the most energy efficient one you can afford. Premium efficiency motors cost about 20 percent more, but can have a relatively short payback to off-set these costs.
  • Motors are oversized when they power end uses that require less horsepower than the motor is capable of producing. Select a lower power motor and operate it at a higher load factor near optimal efficiency to help justify the motor replacement. Motors operated at low load factors have lower power factors, thus having less efficiency
  • Optimize transmission efficiency by using synchronous belts instead of v-belts. V-belts can slip and deteriorate reducing efficiency at higher loads.
  • Consider using a variable speed drive motor system instead of traditional motors when loads vary significantly over the course of daily use
  • Make sure the voltage of the motor is as close to the design limits, found on the nameplate, as possible. Voltage at the motor that is not within the design limits leads to a decrease in power factor. Low power factors may be monetarily penalized by your power company

Refrigeration

• There are a number of systems and practices that can be implemented for refrigeration systems that will help your business save energy. By saving energy with refrigeration conservation the profitability of your business can improve while at the same time reducing harmful carbon emissions into the environment. There are many simple procedures that can be taken to reduce the amount of energy usage of your business’s refrigeration system.
  • Regular maintenance of refrigeration components such as coils, fans, seals, etc. will help keep the system running at its designed efficiency level
  • Check temperature settings to ensure they are not lower than necessary
  • Keep refrigeration systems out of areas that have frequent fluctuations in temperature – areas in direct sunlight or away from outside doors
  • Install a variable speed drive to control the level of refrigeration necessary to keep items cool
  • Defrost cycles can be reduced by adding a sensor at the evaporator and by running defrost at night
  • Use air curtain technology to seal in cool air and keep dust or other contaminants out

HVAC

• Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) can account for approximately 30% of a business’s energy usage. Before considering purchasing new equipment, determine how much energy your business’s HVAC system actually uses. Using a well designed system and implementing comprehensive energy saving techniques can help control your business’s utility costs.
  • Reduce your facility’s load allowing the existing system to operate less frequently.
  • Implementation of an energy management system can provide great savings to your HVAC equipment.
  • Set zones to turn off exhaust fans when not needed and control the temperature of spaces at night.
  • When purchasing new equipment, select units that are Energy Star qualified.
  • Consider energy recovery ventilation systems to reclaim waste energy from exhaust and use it to condition the incoming air.
  • Combine a dehumidification component to your HVAC system to increase customer or employee comfort and reduce the need for larger equipment.
• Practical Energy Solutions – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Reducing Electrical Waste Case Study – HVAC and Lighting Upgrades at the Pascagoula Facility