Newsletter Current

Summer 2010

	Do you know your energy-saving opportunities? Do you have hidden energy waste within your facility? To find out, you have to ask the following questions: How much energy do you spend each year? What are your utility rates? How does your building compare to others? What is your ENERGY STAR score? What savings are hidden in my facility? Once you know your costs, you can put this information in an actionable context using a process called benchmarking. This process compares your facility/metrics to similar facilities/metrics using databases from the U.S. Department of Energy; ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager; and the ASHRAE Building EQ™ program. After you have established a benchmark, you can establish a baseline for your energy use--for example A 50,000 square-foot facility is currently measured at $2.50 per sq. ft. per year, but the industry average for this type of facility is $2.00 per sq. ft. This is a difference of 50¢ per sq. ft. – a goal that, when reached, would result in $25,000 per year in energy savings! Benchmarking establishes a starting point for a facility director to use when planning goals and strategies for increasing energy efficiency. As you can see from the example above, the benefits of undertaking an energy-saving program can be substantial—all the more reason to get started ASAP. *For assistance with this service, call TUDI Mechanical Systems.
	Is your facility wasting energy during off hours? If your facilities’ HVAC equipment is running at full capacity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you may be wasting valuable energy dollars, especially if the building is not fully occupied. If the HVAC equipment can be shut-off or zoned for appropriate use during off-hours, the potential for savings is significant. Here’s an example of how the right controls could reduce heating and cooling costs: A 5-hp fan motor that runs 8,760 hours per year at 8 ¢ kW h costs approximately $3,000 annually. However, running this same fan to match the typical 3,120 business hours would cost about $1,100—a savings of $1,900 in fan power alone. Additional savings for cooling and heating costs could also be achieved. When you consider the potential savings—plus the reduced cost offered by incentives—cutting off-hour energy use is an idea whose time has certainly come. *For assistance with this service, call TUDI Mechanical Systems.
	Get paid to save Monies are available on a first come basis for customers that implement an energy savings program. Pennsylvania’s Act 129 Program offers rebates through local electrical utility companies for reductions in electrical usage and waste. Examples of the available rebates are: $150 per hp for installation of a Variable Frequency Drive on a pump $135 for the replacement of a 25 hp motor with an energy efficient model $35 per ton for replacement of a terminal AC unit with 11.6 EER or higher $18 for each 4 lamp fluorescent T-12 fixture replaced with new T-8 bulbs and ballasts Up to 6¢ per KWH savings for HVAC system upgrades This program is available through 2013 while funds last and are subject to the utility providers’ approval process. *For assistance with this service, call TUDI Mechanical Service.

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