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

Back to top

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 www.simplyinsulate.com.
• Plug energy leaks by caulking and weather stripping all seams, cracks and openings to the outside.
• The Efficient Windows Collaborative (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.

Back to top

"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."

Back to top

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.
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.

Back to top