Web site of the month: DOE EERE Industrial Technologies Program

Energy Technology Solutions: Public-Private Partnerships Transforming Industry offers a look at ITP-funded technologies and others expected to break into the market over the next three years. (Photo by DOE EERE Industrial Technologies Program)

In the utility industry, as in manufacturing, the right tools make the job easier, and that is what the Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) offers power providers: tools to help large industrial customers improve their energy efficiency.

Part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ITP aims to reduce energy consumption in the U.S. industrial sector by 30 percent between 2002 and 2020. The program does this through research and development, validation and dissemination of energy-efficiency technologies and operating practices. Commercializing industrial energy-efficiency technologies is another critical piece of ITP's Strategic Plan. 

National outreach program

Save Energy Now (SEN) is ITP's national initiative to introduce industrial companies to the tools that can help to reduce energy use while increasing a business's profits. Utilities can participate in SEN, too, and learn how to leverage SEN resources to help their large key accounts.

Energy assessments are a key element in the initiative, helping manufacturing facilities to identify immediate opportunities to save energy and money. On average, large plant assessments yield potential savings of $2.5 million. Implementing recommended measures could help the plants save 10 percent or more per year on energy bills, improve productivity and avoid carbon emissions. The assessments are performed by regionally-contracted experts on compressed air, fans, process heating, pumping and steam systems.

Utilities can direct their customers to a description of the assessment process, and an online application. Information on getting the most out of the assessment, implementing recommendations and sharing the experience with other branches and with customers can be found in this section, too.

Case studies of manufacturers that have participated in energy assessments are posted on the Web site. The reports include a summary of key findings, detailed information on manufacturing processes, energy-saving recommendations and results and lessons learned. Visitors can also browse through assessments of participating plants to find businesses similar to their own.

Partnerships expand the reach of Save Energy Now by involving stakeholder organizations in promoting the initiative to industrial companies. In this section, utilities can subscribe to ITP's award-winning online news sources, E-Bulletin and Energy Matters, and learn how to enhance customer service by supporting customers' energy management goals.

In addition to the newsletters and case studies, ITP also publishes sourcebooks, tip sheets, fact sheets, handbooks and market assessments on industrial systems and components. Most can be downloaded from the Web site.

Software, training available to all

It is not necessary to be a partner to use ITP's publication library or the BestPractices software tools. Many of the programs can be accessed directly from the Web site, although a few must be ordered from the EERE Information Center. The Quick Plant Energy Profiler is an overall diagnostic tool. Other software packages identify energy-saving opportunities in specific equipment and systems.

Since identifying the problem is only half the battle, BestPractices offers training courses, both system-wide and component-specific. Energy services representatives at utilities may find these courses useful for increasing their own expertise, or they may recommend courses to facility managers. The courses are offered all over the country, and many are webcasts, so anyone can participate. The training calendar lists all the upcoming events, locations and contact information.

Speaking of training, Western is co-sponsoring Exploring Options for Keeping Industrial Customers Competitive, Aug. 20. The webinar will provide an overview of ITP tools and feature examples of how utilities can use them to benefit their customers. Contact Jamey Evans at 303-275-4813 for more information about this free event.

Resources

Industrial Technologies Program

DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

ITP Strategic Plan

Save Energy Now Initiative

Energy Saving Assessments

ITP energy experts

Assessment process

Online assessment application

Resources (cont.)

Industrial case studies

SEN Participating plants

Partnerships

Publication library

BestPractices

Training courses

Training calendar

People

Jamey Evans

Related articles

Energy Services Bulletin, August 2008
Webinar introduces utilities to industrial energy-efficiency tools

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