Goodway Presents: EPA’s Wise Rules Help Save Energy and Reduce Pollution

In a recent post we here at Goodway Just Venting talked about the Operations and Maintenance guide published by the Department of Energy (DOE). It turns out that this is not the only resource available to you from our friends in this nation’s capital.

The DOE’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) visits plants around the country and makes recommendations about how to reduce energy costs and improve efficiency. It is a service available at no cost to many small- and medium-sized businesses.

The knowledge gathered at more than 4,000 energy audits around the country represents a tremendous resource for you, the Just Venting reader, to find ways in 2011 to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing the connections between efficient operation and the reduction of pollution, the EPA developed the Climate Wise program to promote the twin goals of lower energy costs and reduced pollution.

The Climate Wise program incorporates the recommendations made by DOE energy audits throughout the country. If you were to implement them you could save up to 1.1% of your total facility energy use. That could translate into average annual savings of $11,200, with a payback period of just 20 months.

Here are 9 “Wise Rules” from the EPA related to process cooling systems like the ones you probably already have in your facilities:

• Start by installing energy efficient chillers and refrigeration units. You can save up to 1.2% of your total facility energy use. Potential annual savings are $11,200 with a 23-month payback.

• Use your cooling tower water – if it gets cold enough outside — to replace your chiller for “free” cooling. Possible savings — .8% of total facility energy use,with an average $11,000 annual savings and recoup your investment in about 14  months.

• This so-called free cooling can cut cooling system energy costs by up to 40%.

• Audit your cooling systems to see if you can increase your chilled water set temperature. Look for ways to reduce unnecessary heat sources.   Each 1°F increase in temperature is associated with a 0.6% to 2.5% reduction in energy input.

• Reduce condenser pressure by just 10 psi and you can decrease refrigeration system energy use (per ton of refrigeration) by about 6%.

• A decrease of condenser working temperature of just 1°F can lead to a drop in chiller energy use of as much as 3.5%.

• Cut refrigeration system energy use 10-20% by eliminating leaks and improper defrosting.

• If you freeze products in your facilities, switch from continuous freezing to batch processing.   Look for savings resulting in a 10-20% decrease in freezer energy use.

• Install variable speed drives where you can to more closely match power to load profile. You could see a 30-50% reduction in your cooling system’s energy use.

In the coming months, we’ll take a closer look at recommendations related to other aspects of your operations such as boilers and heat exchangers.

Rich Silverman
Goodway Blogging Team