It seems that every time you hear a news report or read a news article these there is something being reported about energy efficiency, climate change, and/or saving the planet. At Energy LB Resources our mission is to help your company reduce energy consumption, help the environment, and save money. We do this by optimizing the systems that you use for manufacturing and commercial operations, and facility and infrastructure management.
Here are a few suggestions that you can consider to help your facility run more efficiently, be greener, and save money, too.
- Get An Energy Assessment of Your Facility
The best place to begin becoming more energy efficient is find out where the expenditures and energy losses are happening. Plant managers and CFOs are often surprised to find out that energy and costs are going out the window in places they would never have anticipated.
Here’s an example – we worked with a company that was experiencing widespread Maintenance, Repair, and Downtime Operations (MRO) issues, which an electric Power Quality Assessment revealed were caused by poor power quality and unreliable voltage levels. In addition, the company was very keen to lower operating electric bills for their machinery. The evaluation and subsequent improvements saved them over $200,000 in energy saving!
- Monitor Heating & Cooling Costs
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) account for large portions of building energy use so staying on top of the energy you consume through your heating/cooling systems is extremely important. New and existing HVAC technologies can help save energy and reduce operating costs. Proper system assessment, control, upkeep and a well-maintained building can optimize savings and help with energy efficiency all year.
- Upgrade lighting systems for lower costs and greener outcomes
LED upgrades replacing existing fluorescent and specialty lighting is much more sustainable than other lighting options due to using beyond 60% less energy. Motion and occupancy sensors, continuous dimming, daylight harvesting and photo-sensor based logic, IoT connectivity all can be found in modern comprehensive solutions configured to perform in specific ways. When combined with smart controls of various types, from simple sensors to fully integrated lighting design, the reductions can be even more dramatic.
- Water strategies can significantly increase energy efficiency
Water and hydronic systems serve several different purposes in a modern commercial or industrial setting. Water is an extremely energy-burdensome aspect of any building. Efficiency of the chilling or heating process can of course be a factor in overall system performance and cost of operation. Dirty and/or inconsistent water flow reduces heat transfer, clogs and degrades components such as valves and sensors. Pumps have to work harder to transport water of poor quality, and so electricity use rises. Scale and corrosion degrade performance and affect expenditure further, as well as compromising the physical integrity of the piping and equipment.
Clean water will absorb and release thermal energy more readily. Clean, uniform water flow through your meter, pipes, cooling towers, and systems will cost less. Clean water is easier on infrastructure and components. Clean water is healthy.
- Upgrade Your Old Systems & Equipment
Every load group and every system has opportunities for improving energy efficiency. The type of technology that should be upgraded, treated, or replaced to become more sustainable and energy efficient is dependent on the type of facility you operate, and the specific system under consideration, of course.
Realize that although upgrading old systems and equipment – whether through power optimization technologies or new equipment – may be a significant cost outlay at the outset, the overall savings is amortized over a few years and almost always has a positive effect in the long run.
- Finally – Make Sure You Monitor Regularly
Make sure that once you have made these energy-efficient changes and upgrades, you continuously monitor your facility power, fuel, and water bills to be sure that you are reaping the best rewards for your company. Other KPIS are key to track as well beyond utility expenditure: Maintenance and Repair activity/expense, production metrics, equipment life, downtime, and the like.
Energy inefficiencies are often “invisible” and therefore not apparent to the leadership of a company. Energy LB Resources will evaluate your energy use and find ways to optimize consumption and yield of power and resources that will increase productivity, save on equipment maintenance costs, impact positively on the environment, and save money for years, offering an attractive ROI on your capital investment. Our solutions are grounded in operational data, knowledge of your plant, and a diverse set of technologies that create leaner, more economical, and more sustainable energy profiles.