Learn more about energy-efficient tips and the latest energy-efficient products to help increase profitability by lowering costs.
Energy-Efficient Tips
Energy-Efficient Products
Energy-Efficient Tips
Heating and Cooling
-
Heating and cooling comprise 40 percent of the energy used in commercial buildings.
-
Make sure your equipment is properly sized. The most efficient sizing will require the heating system to run constantly at full load on the coldest day that the building is designed to handle.
-
Geothermal heat pumps transfer heat between the building and the ground. Although they cost more to install, geothermal heat pumps have low operating costs. If the building is located near a body of water, such as a pond or lake, water-source heat pumps can offer similar advantages.
-
The heat pipe, originally developed by NASA to cool spacecraft, lowers an air conditioner's energy consumption by 5-10 percent by improving its ability to dehumidify the air.
-
Variable speed motors and compressors. Instead of always operating at full power, heat pumps and air conditioners can now operate at various speeds—slow, medium or fast, or any speed in between—thereby closely matching energy use to temperature fluctuation.
Water Heating
-
Water heating comprises seven percent of the energy used in commercial buildings.
-
Faucet aerators should be installed in restrooms, and low-flow showerheads should be installed in any on-site shower facilities.
-
Horizontal-axis (front-loading) washing machines can provide significant water savings for institutions with laundries; models with high-speed spin cycles will also save on the cost of clothes drying.
-
Low-water-use dishwashing equipment is also available for institutions that have cafeterias on site.
-
A heat pump water heater takes the free heat being exhausted by air conditioners, ice makers, or above a cooking line, and then amplifies it to make cheap hot water. It also returns a moderate amount of free air conditioning as a by-product.
Lighting
-
Lighting typically comprises 31 percent of the electrical load in commercial buildings.
-
Compact fluorescent and LED lights use only 25 percent of the electricity used by incandescent lights, and last up to 10 times as long.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Energy-Efficient Products
Electric Forklifts
Forklifts are used to lift and move cargo that is typically on a pallet from one location to another. Traditionally, they were fueled by gasoline, propane, or diesel fuel. However, clean rechargeable electric forklifts (using lead-acid or other types of recyclable batteries) are gaining in popularity.
The electric forklifts eliminate emissions inside the warehouse or factory, and assist in meeting indoor air quality regulations. Even when accounting for power plant emissions, electric forklifts produce fewer emissions.
Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
Induction Heating
Induction heating is a process where metals are heated and transformed into finished products. It relies on electrical currents that are induced internally into the work piece material, which dissipates the energy and creates the heating. The process can be used in place of heating processes involving gas or oil-fired furnaces.
By using induction heat, the rate of heating is faster than with convection or radiation heating that occurs with furnaces. Along with reduced heating times, there are no on-site combustion emissions and less space is needed for the equipment.
Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
Infrared Drying/Curing
Infrared technology transfers thermal energy in the form of electromagnetic waves from infrared lamps to dry or cure products. The technology can be used cure metal finishes, cure protective coatings, form molded plastics, bind adhesives and metals, dry paper, dry inks, and dry fabrics.
According to research performed by EPRI, electric infrared ovens are about three times more efficient than convection ovens. They also offer faster drying and curing times, more precise control, better product quality, and produce no on-site combustion products.
Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
Laser Machining
-
Laser-based systems use optics to focus high-intensity light waves to cut, drill, weld, and selectively heat-treat a variety of materials. When used for cutting, laser energy vaporizes the work piece material being cut. When used for hardening or welding, the working piece material absorbs the laser beam, which results in localized heating.
-
Laser cutting has been used to cut metals, ceramics, plastics, fabrics, glass, and wood. Laser hardening is used to strengthen automotive parts. The processes allow for quicker process time and no tool wear.
-
Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
Membrane Separation Technologies
-
This process involves the separation of suspended particles such as dissolved salts, metal ions, and pathogens from process liquid or wastewater streams. The technologies can be used to treat water used for product processing in order to recycle and reduce water consumption, as well as to reduce pollutant contaminants in wastewater generated during processing.
-
Electric solutions include microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis. They can be used in place of evaporation and distillations, which are typically more energy-intensive and involve chemicals for water treatment. Because membrane processes only use energy to pump the liquid through the system, energy costs are lowered by as much as 90% compared to the energy used in distillation and evaporation.
-
The equipment itself operates near room temperature, so equipment corrosion is minimized. The systems also require less space than evaporation or distillation equipment, and produce no on-site combustion emissions.
-
Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
Ultraviolet Drying/Curing
-
This is a photochemical process where intense ultraviolet (UV) light is used instead of heat to dry or cure products such as inks, coatings, or adhesives. The process is used for such products as medical lenses, magazine covers, calendars, pens, pencils, floor goods, and furniture laminates.
-
Ultraviolet drying and curing provides many advantages over conventional drying using gas ovens. It creates uniform curing, which allows for immediate processing and fast turn-around. It is also superior at bonding materials, and requires less facility space. In addition, it eliminates on-site combustion emissions.
-
Some sample Web sites for products are shown below.
Disclaimer: The following Web sites are provided for information purposes only. EEI does not endorse the manufacturers or distributors shown, nor does it make any guarantee about product performance. EEI is not responsible for any of the content, pricing, or claims on the following Web sites.