Funding for Commercial Energy Efficiency Projects — Where to Go in Ohio

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Funding for Commercial Energy Efficiency Projects — Where to Go in Ohio

Commercial energy efficiency projects create a dilemma for small- and medium-sized businesses.  When it comes to funding for commercial energy efficiency projects, many still think in terms of banks (commercial and otherwise). Funds from other organizations are available, however – and often at terms that take the “infeasibility” out of energy efficiency projects...

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Getting the Most from an Energy Assessment

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In this day of increasing utility costs, energy efficiency and reduced consumption are the goals of every business – especially industrial firms. There are a lot of standalone measures manufacturing companies can take to improve their energy usage – but the greatest gains occur when they have a comprehensive energy efficiency plan. This plan begins with an energy assessment.Read More

Better Electric Distribution Systems Begin with “Knowing the Load”

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Those familiar with electrical concepts know that load basically refers to the power an electrical system draws in order to keep its network of equipment operating. There can be a big difference between the actual electrical load a system draws and the load it is capable of drawing.Read More

Free Energy Assessment Available

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A great way to start 2012 is by getting an accurate picture of your company’s energy usage and how you might become more energy efficient. And a great way to do this is with a free energy assessment currently being offered by D.L. Steiner.

D.L. Steiner’s energy assessment is a CEM-completed engineering study that uses your company’s historical energy data, an inspection of your facility, and comparisons with industry averages to identify areas where you can increase energy efficiency and conservation—and save money!

Contact D.L. Steiner at 419.222.6048 to schedule your free energy assessment and to request our Pre-Assessment Data Collection Form.

Demand Control Options That Save Money

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In the previous issue of the PCC Journal, we discussed how demand control can help companies lower their utility bills by smoothing out their electrical demand (the kW amount of electricity required for operations). This article looks at six great options for setting up an effective demand control program—and eliminating those costly demand charges!Read More

Effective Power Factor Correction Using Synchronous Motors

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Power factor and power factor correction are familiar electrical terms, but just in case they are new to you, let’s do a quick review. As it relates to electrical energy, power factor is the ratio of working power to apparent power. Working power (kW) is the electrical energy you need to do useful things, namely, run production equipment. Apparent power (kVA) is the electrical energy your utility company must supply in order to deliver the working power you need.Read More

Basic Considerations for Electrical Lockout/Tagout

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Lockout/tagout is one of those “good news-bad news” safety topics. The good news is that most companies are generally doing a better job of addressing lockout/tagout issues than they are other safety concerns. The bad news is lockout/tagout programs for plant electrical systems, for the most part, are still not as well defined as those for other energy sources. This article presents basic considerations that will help you establish a workable electrical lockout/tagout program at your facility.Read More

Lowering Electric Costs Through Demand Control

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With today’s focus on reducing the high cost of monthly electric utility charges, most companies automatically assume this means installing new, more energy-efficient fixtures and equipment. These can help, but for many facilities, the place to begin in cutting electric costs is not by installing a new lighting system or high-efficiency motors. Instead, it’s by taking a look at the electric utility bill—more specifically, thedemand charge on that bill.Read More

Implementing Effective Power Management

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Advances in digital monitoring/control devices and networking technology have expanded the range of power monitoring equipment available, plus improved its functionality. The result is a significant new potential forincreasing power system reliability while decreasing system operating costs. These advances are causing a growing number of facilities to develop comprehensive energy management strategies that help them maximize their energy resources.Read More

Designing for Reliability, Safety, and Maintenance

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Because the design of an electrical system is based on distributing power, we can easily lose sight of its other important functional criteria and if we don’t consider these, longterm system operating costs will skyrocket. To avoid this, electrical systems need to be designed for reliability, safety, and ease of maintenance.Read More