The Challenge
Thirty years in the industry has given plant engineering manager, John Conery, a 360° view of energy-related issues. When John learned about a strategic energy management (SEM) pilot program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), he knew Camso would be better positioned to understand and control energy use around the facility. Taking advantage of the program would be beneficial, resulting in a better understanding of energy management and significant cost savings.
The Solution
SEM allows companies to assess, understand, and integrate continuous energy improvement directly into their business models. It can make businesses more competitive by saving them money while streamlining processes and minimizing interruptions. As part of the SEM program, NYSERDA offers training and tools for participants. Training sessions guide employees through the process of establishing and implementing an SEM system. Participants learn to measure and track energy use to help inform strategic business decisions, drive energy focused managerial and corporate behavioral changes, and develop the mechanisms to track and evaluate energy optimization efforts.
With the support of the program, John put together a team of colleagues, created a plan, and in just under a year, completed several strategic energy upgrades that are already yielding results.
The Results
Projects to date include steam trap audits and improvements, air compressor reconfiguration, and the addition of a variable frequency drive (VFD) to the cooling tower controls. By implementing these measures, John was able to better control temperature, switch to smaller compressors, and identify and address air leaks. These upgrades and adjustments are saving Camso more than $35,000 annually.
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