Boosting Your Bottom Line: Plug Into Programs

Improving your facility’s energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective options to address high energy costs, and it’s an option that is itself a growing industry with financial and technical resources to highlight energy savings in your facility. As the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) reports, $3.7 billion was dedicated to energy efficiency programs in 2007 in the U.S. and Canada, 47% of which was dedicated to the commercial and industrial sectors (http://www. cee1.org/ee-pe/2007/2007EEPReport.pdf).

In the United States, motors consume approximately 75% of the electricity in the industrial sector. As such, zeroing in on motors and motor systems at your plant or facility is a great first step toward reducing your energy costs. A range of efficiency programs dedicated to motor-related efficiency are available throughout the U.S. and Canada. The types of programs can range from prescriptive programs, which provide rebates or other financial incentives for the purchase of NEMA Premium motors, to technical assistance programs, which provide technical expertise or funding to hire outside technical expertise. Often, program types overlap, with several types incorporated into one framework that best suits the goal of the specific efficiency program.

In much the same way as the efficiency industry budget is growing, so too is the number of programs that focus on NEMA Premiumefficiency motors and adjustable speed drives (ASD). In 2007, more than 170 motor and ASD programs were available in the U. S. and Canada. These programs fall into a number of categories, including specifically:

• Prescriptive
• Upstream
• Custom Retrofit
• New Construction
• Standard Performance Contract (SPC)
• Financial Assistance
• Technical Assistance
• Education/Awareness
• Motor Management or MDM Materials
• Other

For more information about programs in your area, download the CEE 2007 Program Summary: Energy efficiency Incentive Programs for Premium Efficiency Motors & Adjustable Speed Drives in the U.S. and Canada (http:// www.motorsmatter.org/). If getting started in the direction of energy efficiency seems like a daunting task, fear not! There are resources available to help you, and they’re free! The Motor Decisions Matter (MDM) Campaign and its sponsoring organizations have developed several tools and resources that you can use to develop a motor management plan that meets your company’s needs. This information can also lead to partnerships with your local sales and service center, vendor, electric utility or other energy-efficiency representatives who are wellpositioned to offer added support. MT

The Motor Decisions Matter campaign is managed by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, a North American nonprofit organization that promotes energy-saving products, equipment and technologies. For further information about MDM, contact Ted Jones at tjones@cee1.org or (617) 589-3949, ext. 230.