Bright Ideas: You Are What You Eat...Or Is It Consume?

Mid-Large Manufacturing News
Date: Wed, 11 Jan, 2012 at 11:52

Growing up, I would always hear the saying, “You are what you eat.” I took this to heart and it made me think twice about reaching for that Twinkie or candy bar. Instead, I would pick up a more nutritious alternative like a banana or apple. Afterwards, I would be glad that I did. If the principle behind this common phrase makes us think twice about what we put into our bodies, why should energy conservation be any different? The same principles of awareness and responsibility apply whether fueling our bodies or fueling a manufacturing process.

Let’s take an athlete’s diet for example. An athlete consumes a large amount of calories to fuel their training. However, their diet is balanced and consists of high quality foods that will yield the greatest amount of energy. So that’s maximum output per unit of input…sounds like maximizing energy efficiency to me!

Likewise, each organization must strive to trim the fat from their energy diet and continually increase their energy efficiency. No one wants to be an energy hog, but some processes are inherently energy intensive. Therefore, it is important to have a plan and identify the significant energy users for each system. This will allow you to appropriately focus your efforts, monitor, and begin evaluating which
processes need to become more efficient.

So where do you start?

The first step is to complete an energy assessment. The energy assessment will provide a detailed breakdown of energy consumption, identify significant energy users, establish an energy baseline, and identify energy conservation opportunities (ECOs) with attractive paybacks. When coupled with a comprehensive energy program, the energy assessment becomes a valuable tool to jumpstart your
energy savings.

Remember, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Energy is one of the largest costs for organizations, so it is important to begin emphasizing and making energy conservation a priority. With a strategic focus on energy management, your efforts will prove to be valuable and yield long lasting results.

If you would like additional information regarding an energy assessment and energy program, please feel free to contact TechSolve’s Strategic Energy Management Team.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUNG PAIK:
513.948.2098, paik@techsolve.org, www.techsolve.org

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