In the News

“Save Energy Now” Assessments Available

As Director of the Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC), Michael Vasilik, Ph.D. has some strong opinions about the Save Energy NOW Pennsylvania Program. “I support it enthusiastically, and not only that, we can help to conduct energy assessments for them,” he says.

“Our center has had great success in helping manufacturers find solutions to the variety of problems they encounter, including VOC and CO2 reduction, regulatory compliance and maintenance, and energy management and education,” he says. “We continue to forge industry and government partnerships like this one in order to positively impact companies throughout the country.”

Due to its highly qualified staff and extensive experience in P2E2 (pollution prevention energy efficiency), ETAC is able to conduct “industrial grade” energy assessments that provide manufacturing companies with real answers to their energy management questions and needs. Grant funding for ETAC partially subsidizes the cost of the energy assessments.

Here is a program description from the US Department of Energy (DOE):

DOE's Save Energy Now initiative helps American businesses, factories, and manufacturing facilities save energy and continue to thrive despite variable energy costs.

Energy Assessment Process

• Prepare
• Apply
• Participate
• Implement
• Communicate

• Save Energy Now Results and Completed Assessments
• Assessment Case Studies
• Energy Experts

As a key element of Save Energy Now, DOE conducts energy assessments to help manufacturing facilities across the nation identify immediate opportunities to save energy and money. An assessment can also be part of an overall energy management strategy that will continue to yield major bottom-line benefits throughout your company and put you on a path to energy savings.

Bottom-line Results

In the last two years, many companies working in partnership with DOE have already benefited from taking part in assessments. On average, each large plant assessment yields potential savings of $2.5 million. Implementing measures could help these plants save 10% or more per year on energy bills, not to mention productivity improvements and avoided carbon emissions. Many plants are already saving, and your plant could start saving, too.

Assessment Options

Save Energy Now assessments primarily focus on energy-intensive systems: process heating, steam, compressed air, fans, and pumps. Fine-tuning of these systems could offer your company the potential to yield large savings. Optimizing these systems can lead to significant long-term savings, and even bigger savings are possible if the approach is spread throughout your company's plants.

Through Save Energy Now, DOE offers these energy assessment options:

• For large plants: The nation's largest, most energy-intensive plants can apply to receive a 3-day system assessment. These on-site assessments are led by DOE's Energy Experts who use DOE's software tools and technical information to target a specific system area. Assessments also provide valuable hands-on learning that can help your staff gain knowledge to multiply the benefits of the assessment.
  
  
• For small and medium-sized plants: DOE's university-based Industrial Assessment Centers conduct 1-day assessments at smaller plants. Teams of highly trained IAC faculty and engineering students apply the same DOE software tools and technical resources to identify key savings opportunities throughout your plant.
  
  
• For all plants: Contacting the EERE Information Center is the right option for any plant, large or small, if you are ready to boost energy savings and improve productivity. Whether or not you receive an assessment, here you will find expert technical assistance and guidance on how to make the most of the Save Energy Now portfolio of resources.

We encourage you to apply today for a Save Energy Now assessment, either for large or small to medium-sized plants. Please read through the Assessment Process to help you get started. If you have participated before, you will learn about recent changes to the initiative.

Contact Dr. Vasilik at 610-861-5596 or the EERE Information Center with any questions.

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