Food Processing - June 2008 - (Page 55)

P L A N T O P E R AT I O N S ager of automation and electrical engineering for Cincinnati-based AEC firm Hixson (www.hixson-inc.com). But this may be changing as energy costs soar, because “everybody we meet is interested in saving on energy any way they can, [from] lighting to solar, geothermal, cogeneration and wind energy.” Capital equipment budgeting and payback methods may be holding more companies back from potential innovations, AEA’s Zoby believes, “It’s getting to the point where old school engineering, with simple paybacks, is the bare minimum of what gets considered these days.” For large capital projects or ongoing service agreements, contract arrangements can entail near-permanent turnkey services. Some come with guaranteed annual payback levels that can stretch a decade or more, and if the results aren’t achieved, the energy contractor must pay the difference. SSOE’s DiPofi cites a 10-year payoff solar project, after which the company got “free power” for the remaining 10-15 years of service life. “We’re finding that food processors people are interested in more detailed payback analysis,” says Hixson’s Frey, including calculations of alternative, optional plans. But outside consultants have no power over the most significant determining success factor because “the culture of that plant and corporation is everything. If the company’s not supporting the technology initiative, you’re not going to have the FoodProc.pdf 2/12/08 8:15:40 PM results you’re looking for.” more on the web We carried a feature story on alternative energy sources in our January issue; see www.FoodProcessing.com/articles/2008/008.html. Detroit’s DTE Energy has a software tool at www.energytechpro.com. The Energy Solutions Center’s Food Processing Consortium is at http://foodtechinfo.com. The U.S. Green Building Council’s tips on LEED certification for existing buildings are at www.usgbc.org/ DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=221 Save Energy Now, offering energy-saving services by the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program, is at www.eere.energy.gov/industry. Alliant Energy’s focus on improving the efficiency of chillers is at www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p012393.hcsp#P18_1139 And a search of the word “energy” on www.FoodProcessing.com will turn up 437 results, including whitepapers, products and news stories. foodprocessing.com June 2008 food processing • 55 http://www.hixson-inc.com http://www.FoodProcessing.com/articles/2008/008/html http://www.FoodProcessing.com/articles/2008/008/html http://www.energytechpro.com http://www.energytechpro.com http://foodtechinfo.com http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=221 http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=221 http://www.eere.energy.gov/industry http://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p012393.hcsp#P18_1139 http://www.alliantenergy.com/docs/groups/public/documents/pub/p012393.hcsp#P18_1139 http://www.FoodProcessing.comc http://www.FoodProcessing.comc http://www.remcoproducts.com http://www.remcoproducts.com http://foodprocessing.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Food Processing - June 2008

Food Processing - June 2008 Editor's Plate NewsBites Show Report The Trends Rollout Food Biz Kids Consumer Taste Test A Bevy of New CEOs Ingredients Packaging Plant Operations MRO Q&A New Supplier Products Toops Scoops Contents

Food Processing - June 2008

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