Compressed Air Best Practices - September 2008 - (Page 6) | 09/08 Compressed Air Industry FOOD PACKAGING & PROCESSING | FROM THE EDITOR Food Processing & Packaging According to the 2008 EIA International Energy Outlook Report, industrial electricity consumption in the United States will increase from 3.5 to 3.6 quadrillion btu from 2005 to 2030 — only 0.1% per year. Over the same time period, residential electricity consumption is forecast to increase 1% per year from 4.6 to 5.9 quadrillion btu and commercial electricity consumption is forecast to increase 1.7% per year from 4.4 to 6.6 million btu. It’s no wonder the utility companies are providing incentive programs to industry to reduce energy consumption. Utilities are faced with quite a challenge to supply the forecasted electricity consumption of the U.S. residential and commercial segments. The compressed air industry is doing its part. In this edition, we outline the energy reduction programs being installed into food-processing and packaging facilities. Mr. Lane Hollar of Air Flow Inc. shares an audit story with us of a food processor where the installed horsepower was reduced significantly, by going with a Variable Capacity Control air compressor. Accurate Air Engineering shares some “Bakery Best Practices” with us as they focus on the inefficiencies of blow-off air using compressed air. They also provide interesting advice on how they have reduced energy costs in vineyards and major food processors in California. Thomas Mort Consulting is profiled this month because of their ability to implement energysaving projects in multiple industrial processes including compressed air. Mr. Thomas Mort is a highly recognized Energy Engineer in the automotive manufacturing industry and is a gifted communicator and teacher. His techniques and materials focus on teaching the maintenance departments to implement energy-saving projects themselves. Last but not least, I’d like to congratulate President Tom Russell and the members of the ICDA (Industrial Compressor Distributor Association) for their success over the past few years and their unbridled optimism looking at 2009. They are 100% onboard with the view that business will be fine in 2009 as long as we all stay focused on reducing energy costs for our customers! Thank you again for your support. ROD SMITH Editor rod@airbestpractices.com 6 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.belairtech.net http://www.airbestpractices.com
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