Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009 - (Page 24)

| 01/09 Focus Industry ENERGY REBATES | ENERGY REBATES ASSIST INDUSTRIAL SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES Aid for Energy-Efficiency Incentive Programs? I have no idea how things work in Washington D.C. or in government in general. Yet, with President-elect Obama talking about a $1 trillion plan to re-start the economy, why not get energyrebates in the capital appropriations request line? If private and public utility companies or the U.S. DOE were given capital to encourage the Sustainability Initiatives of corporations to do more energy-efficiency projects, it seems many objectives of the new administration would be met. 1. 2. 3. 4. Electrical energy conservation by U.S. industry Reductions in GHG’s like CO2 in U.S. industry Job Creation in auditing plants, purchasing, installing and producing energy-efficient machinery Increased competitiveness of U.S. industry Wouldn’t this be a better use of taxpayer money than the financial bailouts? Conclusion We used an example of a 12-factory corporation in this article, which achieved significant energy savings of 22% in their compressed air systems. I have personally spoken with Corporate Energy Managers hoping to do the same in much, much, larger numbers of factories. How can we help them achieve their goals? Perhaps it is naïve to bring up the question of how more capital be found for energy-efficiency rebates, but it seems a logical question since the funds deployed are so effective. Regions like the Northwest, the Northeast, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, parts of the Southeast, Manitoba, Quebec and British Columbia, boast of vibrant energy-efficiency incentive programs (my apologies to anyone erroneously left out). Huge industrial regions meanwhile, like Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio, have insignificant rebate programs. What can be done to stimulate these regions? What we do know is industrial rebates assist the Sustainability Initiatives of Corporations. These “Energy Conservation Heavyweights” are trying to push forward energy reduction projects in their factories. Rebates help them win the internal capital deployment debates. Rebates not only help win the ROI battle, but more importantly, provide third-party verification of the validity of the proposed energy-efficiency projects. The benefits of the projects hit many of the major priorities of the new “green economy.” For more information, contact Rod Smith, Editor, Compressed Air Best Practices™ Magazine, email: rod@airbestpractices.com, www.airbestpractices.com Sources: i. DOE Energy Information Administration, “2002 Energy Consumption by Manufacturers—Data Tables. Table 9.1-Enclosed Floorspace and Number of Establishment Buildings.” 8 March 2005. 1 June 2007; Energy Information Administration, “2002 Energy Consumption by Manufacturers—Data Tables. Table 7.9 Expenditures for Purchased Energy Sources, 2002.” 2002. 1 June 2007 ii. DOE Energy Information Administration, 2006, Industrial Technologies Program Bulletin iii. DOE Industrial Technologies Program Bulletin 24 www.airbestpractices.com http://www.airbestpractices.com http://www.airbestpractices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009

Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News Compressed Air Audit of the Month: A Nitrogen Audit at Boeing Air Standards: New ASME & ISO Standards for Compressed Air System Assessments Energy Rebates Assist Industrial Sustainability Initiatives Seven Sustainability Projects for Industrial Energy Savings: Project #1: Lighting Optimization Minimum Supply Wire Size Recommendations for Compressor Packages Utilizing Variable Frequency Drives The Pneumatic Advantage: Pneumatics Bring Precision and Reliability to Furniture Industry Specialist Personal Productivity: Is Afternoon Fatigue Influencing Your Job Performance? The Explanation and Some Solutions. Resources for Energy Engineers: Training Calendar & Product Picks Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Classifieds

Compressed Air Best Practices - January 2009

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