Daily Archives: November 12, 2020

Variable Frequency Drives Will Save

One area of energy waste is something that a lot of people take for granted. One goes out and buys a fan or motor or it is included in equipment to move air or liquid so that an operation works, whether it is an AC unit or industrial process. We buy it, install it, and don’t think much about it. It works. However, there are several issues:

  • Most fans and motors work on an all on/all off system. It is either working at full load or is turned off. What if operations do not need that much power? You have no choice. The fan or motor operates at the design speed only.
  • To adjust flow, reduce the valve opening. But that takes work to regulate and, as important, the motor is still using extra energy above what is needed.
  • It gets worse. Pumps and fans are often overdesigned (by well-meaning engineers) commonly by 15 to 20%, resulting in even greater energy waste.
  • And also, wasted energy is often in the form of vibrations or dissipated heat, which reduces equipment life and increases maintenance costs.

It is like driving a car that goes so fast that you have to step on the break constantly to get to where you want to go. Wasted energy.

The fix for this problem is to anticipate the highest flow you need, procure a pump or fan whose maximum power meets that flow, and ensure it has a variable frequency drive (VFD) to enable it to operate at lower power during reduced needs with the valve kept fully open. Electricity reductions of over 50% have been achieved. In addition, many utilities offer incentives for some fraction of the capital cost of equipment with motors with VFDs for purchasing and using them.

And this fix particularly makes economic sense because the capital cost of a new motor with a VFD is relatively low (58% of a pump’s life cycle cost is energy usage). So a small increase in capital cost to bring energy costs down goes a long way.

In assessing opportunities to reduce energy usage and cost at your company, space, or building, consider equipment that contains and uses fans and motors, invest in assessing whether it is overdesigned, and replace equipment or just the motor with a new one, right-sized, containing a VFD for good cost savings.

CCES has the experts to help you assess your energy usage and develop energy conservations methods to help you save significant energy usage, peak demand, and costs. We also project manage to help ensure you procure and use new equipment that is properly designed by the vetted suppliers. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

Energy Upgrades for Your Company: Go For a Checkup

With the pandemic hurting so many businesses and revenues slow to recover, it is critical to cut waste and expenses to survive. Energy is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste and costs as it is often overlooked by companies focusing on sales. In most cases, one must spend money to get the savings, but think of it as an investment: if you evaluate your energy use the right way, an upgrade can save you a lot of money.

An approach I recommend for energy is analogous to going for a checkup. One would not go right to the hospital for a heart transplant or to remove a tumor, right? First, one would go for a checkup, look at the results of the blood work, EKG, MRIs, and other tests. Then, if there are worrisome numbers, re-test or have more specific tests done to confirm and pinpoint the problem. Then you analyze the strategies. What will solve the problem? Medication? Change in diet/habits? Rest? Surgery? Then and only then might you go in for a transplant or any other radical procedure. Makes sense, right?

Well, the same is true for energy. Does it make sense to replace your boiler or air conditioning unit right away, even if it were old? No. First, you need to do a “checkup” of your energy profile. Have a professional estimate – using science – the current energy usage of your company, building, or space. Analyze your bills, look at your equipment, see how they operate for your appropriate needs. This is how an energy audit works, your energy “checkup”. The professional will produce a report listing your measured energy usage, broken down by electricity vs. natural gas, vs. oil, etc. Then the report will estimate your energy usage by end use. How much energy do you use for lighting, for heating, for cooling, etc.? The relative proportions are important (like the blood work for a medical checkup), as it can tell you which areas to emphasize and which cost you relatively little. For the areas that use a lot of energy and cost a lot of money, the energy audit identifies typically several potential strategies and technologies that will reduce your energy usage and costs such that they will pay back any upfront capital cost.

Once the energy audit report is issued, don’t “put it on the shelf”. We know you have many priorities in running your business. But try not to let too much time go by; read the report and take it seriously. The auditor does not have the same intimate knowledge of your business pressure points as you; the report focuses on energy savings. Take some time and evaluate which of the recommended upgrades makes the most sense for your specific situation. Which upgrades may not “work” for your specific situation or might be inconvenient? Which ones have short or long paybacks? Typically, several strategies can “work” and save you significant cost. Which ones might you do and in what order?

Now, you’re in much better shape to take the right “medicine” to reduce your energy costs long-term. You have in your hands several, diverse strategies to reduce energy costs, the knowledge of the likelihood and degree of success, and information to procure, implement and operate the technology or strategy for maximum benefit.

Yes, the energy audit typically costs several thousand dollars for the professional’s experience and expertise and there is a high possibility, but no guarantee of success. But to be able to pinpoint exactly which strategies will result in solid energy usage and cost reductions lasting a long time is certainly worth this early investment.

Just like you (or your insurance) paying for the doctor to do a checkup on you.

CCES has the experts to perform such energy audits for your building, space, or company, providing multiple, science-based, positive strategies or technology recommendations to save you energy usage and costs – not just for the next year – but for year after year in the future. The charge for such an energy “checkup” is not great but provides you with specific information which you can turn in to major cost savings in the future. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or karell@CCESworld.com.

Energy & Environmental Analysis of 2020 Election

As this is written, we think the election of 2020 is over. Joe Biden will be the new President as of January 20, 2021, although Donald Trump has not acknowledged the voting results. Let’s hope this is bluster and normal transfer of power will occur. Here are some potential changes in energy and environment rules in a Biden Administration.

The Biden Administration will likely move to reverse regulatory actions of the Trump Administration. For example, Biden said that on his first day on the job he will apply for reinstatement in the Paris Climate Accords. The Democratic Party said it would propose a $2 trillion plan to improve transportation and achieve a carbon-free power grid by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050. However, given the uncertain makeup of the Senate and not knowing if all Democrats, such as Sen. Manchin of WV, could support this it is unclear whether the plan can pass. While difficult in our partisan atmosphere, bipartisan compromises may be necessary. Many environmental and climate policy changes may be implemented by administrative policy and enforcement, rather than by legislation. Potentially favorable to Biden is the fact that at many of states have adopted a Renewable Portfolio Standard and many companies have GHG emission pledges.

The Biden Administration is likely to reverse deregulatory policies of the Trump Administration, such as revoking executive orders, such as those encouraging energy exploration in environmentally-sensitive areas. The Biden Administration may also place those in charge of the US EPA to promote stronger regulations and enforcement.
The incoming Biden Administration is anticipated to depart from the Trump Administration’s approach to enforcement and permitting and increase attention on environmental justice issues.

The Biden Administration is likely to reverse Trump executive order and issue new ones reestablishing a goal for the federal government to reduce GHG emissions and limiting oil and gas leasing on federal lands. President-elect Biden recently pledged to use the federal government procurement system to give preference to technologies that would move the nation towards 100% clean energy and zero-emissions vehicles to jump-start those industries and to re-establish DOE energy efficiency standards.

President-elect Biden has spoken about his desire to push the government to invest in major infrastructure upgrades, including those that support clean energy power. Biden will likely empower FERC to develop strategies to achieve net-zero emissions, including incentives to grow clean energy and improve energy efficiency of buildings.

A Biden US EPA is expected to address and potentially repeal Trump’s Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule, which withdrew its prior Clean Air Act waiver for California GHG programs and rolled back stringent GHG standards for future autos.

Finally, the Biden Administration is expected to attempt to re-enact the “Once In, Always In” policy of applicability of sources in the air toxics program , NESHAPS, and undo earlier rollbacks under the Endangered Species Act.

Please note that this article is not a legal evaluation of US energy and environmental laws and where they are heading. For specific advice, please engage an appropriate legal professional. CCES has the technical expertise to keep up with and help you comply with complex environmental and energy rules, whether they be federal, state, or local ones. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.