Mitigation Plan for Energy Conservation - Case Study Example

Mitigation Plan for Energy Conservation: Everyday new opportunities for energy conservation are becoming more numerous in both commercial and domestic setups. The impact that energy conservation can have in reducing total costs in terms of money and environmental damage has become widely recognized. In other words, energy conservation directly translates into a healthier environment to live in as well as more finances to dispose with. Conservation efforts in reducing green house gases across the world as well as reducing toxic pollutants like carbon monoxide can also help remedy the potentially dangerous global warming situation. The rest of the essay will deal about various mitigation efforts that could be incorporated into existing energy systems in order to make energy consumption more efficient. Any large scale energy conservation projects are not viable due to the heavy initial costs that they would require. Hence, the most feasible alternative is through mitigating the inefficiencies in the existing systems. Also, with a little bit of financial help from the government in the form of subsidies, members of the relevant communities won’t feel the pinch of these additional costs. For example, in the Washington D.C. metro area, “…the local utility PEPCO underwrote the cost of compact fluorescent bulbs for several years. In other locations utilities have worked to provide interest subsidies for the purchase of highly efficient household appliances, like refrigerators. These appliances carry a higher purchase price, which may discourage buyers, but over the life of the equipment will actually save money though reduce energy consumption. Subsidizing interest payments bring the purchase price in line with conventional appliances” (Potera, 2005). The mitigation plans for energy conservation can be broadly divided into household and industrial applications. Both areas are equally important. First, let us see how existing industrial systems could be made more energy-efficient and cost effective. The following set of guidelines can help make substantial savings in energy and cost in factories and other manufacturing facilities. 1. Operate furnaces and boilers at or close to design capacity 2. Reduce excess air used for combustion 3. Clean heat transfer surfaces 4. Reduce radiation losses from openings 5. Use proper furnace or boiler insulation to reduce wall heat losses 6. Adequately insulate air or water-cooled surfaces exposed to the furnace environment and steam lines leaving the boiler 7. Install air preheat or other heat recovery equipment 8. Improve water treatment to minimize boiler blow-down 9. Optimize de-aerator vent rate 10. Repair steam leaks 11. Minimize vented steam 12. Implement effective steam trap maintenance program 13. Use high-pressure condensate to make low-pressure steam 14. Utilize backpressure turbine instead of pressure-reducing or release valves 15. Optimize condensate recovery 16. Minimize air leakage into the furnace by sealing openings 17. Maintain proper, slightly positive furnace pressure 18. Reduce weight of or eliminate material handling fixtures 19. Modify the furnace system or use a separate heating system to recover furnace exhaust gas heat 20. Recover part of the furnace exhaust heat for use in lower-temperature processes. (Potera, 2005) The importance of energy conservation with respect to industry cannot be overemphasized. For instance, the industrial sector expends nearly one third of total energy consumption in most advanced countries. In other words, in a period of twelve months an average sized plant can use as much energy as what a thousand homes would consume put together. This is the equivalent of total gasoline consumed in one year by two thousand cars. Given the fact that energy usage in industry can influence prices of manufactured goods and commodities adds weight for the argument in favor of conservation. For example, “Industry is responsible for producing almost everything around you! For example, the aluminum plant in your neighborhood helps you travel the world by supplying critical materials necessary for commercial airplanes. The chemical plant provides everyday products such as films, fibers, antifreezes, coolants, inks, adhesives and even diapers. And the metal casting plant down the road supplies a wide variety of parts for automobiles to home appliances to surgical equipment. Industry makes the things that keep America running.” (Mitra, 2007) In this scenario, easily implement able mitigation ideas as listed above can help manufacturers save energy while also achieving their bottom line. But it is to be noted that on top of such enhancements to the manufacturing systems, regular review and assessment of emerging technologies is also imperative, as it is prudent to keep pace with technological developments. This process entails project teams with industrial firms “to conduct hands-on energy assessments and provides training opportunities in plant energy management practices”. In doing so, industrialists maintain their competitiveness in all domains “through strategic energy management, including the use of energy-efficient technologies”. In the long run, this aids industrial manufacturers reduce expenditure and pollutant emissions (Mitra, 2007). Similarly, a systematic action plan for industrial energy conservation will include the following components: 1. Track your energy bills 2. Evaluate equipment operating practices and identify pieces of equipment that represent the big uses of energy 3. Identify no- or low-cost projects to save energy 4. Get management support 5. Form an energy team at your plant 6. Develop an ongoing strategy for continuous improvement. (Mitra, 2007) As a matter of fact, there are strong incentives for implementing the above discussed strategies in all industrial plants and facilities. For example, the price of gasoline has been rising steadily over the last few years. This same increasing spiral in utility expenses has been impacting other areas of the economy as well. The following passage states some of the reasons for implementing conservation plans: “Since 2000, the cost for natural gas has more than quadrupled – going from a range of $2.00 to well over $8.00 per mm Btu! The price of electricity is closely linked to the price of natural gas, and has almost quadrupled over this same period. For example, cost for natural gas and electricity at for a University campus that was $30 million in 2004 had risen to be over $60 million in 2006, based on market pricing currently available. Without the significant improvements in efficiency that have been made in recent years, expenses for electricity and natural gas alone would be close to $75 million.” (Hendron, 2006) The United States is the largest consumer of energy in the world. The federal buildings and facilities alone account for more than $20 billion in expenditure. On top of this, more than $3.5 billion is allocated for energy for these facilities and almost $200 billion for remuneration and benefits to employees. This presents legislators and planners to apply sustainable energy producing/consuming technologies and practices on a substantial scale in order to extend the benefits to non-governmental residential energy consumption as well. With so much to gain in terms of “energy, environmental, and economic benefits, it is not surprising that many federal agencies have developed policies to promote sustainable design and operation. In particular, federal policy calls on agencies to implement the following actions: Maximize the potential of the site; Minimize the energy and resource consumption; Protect and conserve water; Use environmentally preferable products and materials; Enhance indoor environmental quality; and Optimize operational and maintenance practices.(from www.epa.gov/greenkit/q5_energ.htm, 2007) The committee for policy development has also proposed the following guidelines to be kept in cognizance during the execution of the above mentioned actions. They can also serve as action steps for each of the above action items: Establish sustainable design goals early in the planning stages and aim for a minimum equivalent of a LEED silver rating, with additional emphasis on energy efficiency, water conservation and indoor air quality; Bring together a multi-disciplinary design team with all building stakeholders, and include them in a design charts at the outset of the project; Strive for a "whole building" design that integrates the architectural and engineered features of the building in relation to its environment; Evaluate lifecycle costs in all design and financial decision making; Consider making new types of trade-offs, including foregoing certain traditional building electives in order to pay for sustainable features that may require more upfront costs; and Maintain a commitment to integrate sustainable design principles and practices throughout the design, construction, and operation of the facility. In an era marked by a increased awareness of non-renewable natural resources, there is a constant need for energy conservation in order to decrease costs, lessen dependency on non-sustainable energy resources, minimize the negative impact on environment, and conserve resources for future generations. At this juncture in time, energy conservation is a “particularly effective way of reducing living costs and the cost of government operations, thus contributing to the vitality of the local economy” (Hendron, 2006). Some of the action plans have seen successful implementation already. This will lead to further initiatives to reduce energy consumption in governmental operations over the years. The local energy provider also has a role to play in promoting conservation that is not only efficient but also sustainable. This will also help promote awareness about the fruits of energy conservation as well. In this context, the importance of action items and action steps in mitigation planning cannot be overstated. The following sequence of action steps is an effective starting point for local agencies that are responsible for energy management: Action 1 Continue to work with local energy agencies to educate the public about the importance of energy conservation and to promote use of techniques to reduce consumption. Action 2 Evaluate the Building Code and update as appropriate to incorporate current energy conservation standards for new construction and major building renovations. Action 3 Support the local county’s Weatherization Program, which provides assistance for physical improvements to residents to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. Action 4 Provide weatherization assistance to low and moderate income property owners through housing assistance programs. Action 5 Consider the role of energy conservation and possible use of alternative energy sources as part of the sustainable economic development strategy. (Hendron, 2006) Given the delicate balance between energy consumption through non-renewable resources and environmental health, the need for mitigation efforts toward conserving energy resources at all given opportunities becomes imperative. Any degradation of the environment is ultimately going to affect human health. What is needed at this juncture is innovative action plans that help set in motion a culture of energy conservation. This is not just applicable to heavy industries but also to residential energy consumers. What is required is a cooperative and sustained effort on part of common people, government as well as the manufacturing corporations in order to make planet earth a better place to live in for future generations of people. References: Hendron, R., Hancock, E., Barker, G., & Reeves, P. (2006)., An Evaluation of Affordable Prototype Houses at Two Levels of Energy Efficiency. ASHRAE Transactions, 112(2), 296-307. Retrieved January 20, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Potera, C. (2005, May)., Growing Green Communities., Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(5), A300-A300. Retrieved January 20, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Mitra, A. (2007, Spring)., Planners leading the charge toward energy-efficient communities., National Civic Review, 96(1), 57-58. Retrieved January 20, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database. Energy Conservation Action Plan, Environmental Protection Agency, Government of United States retrieved on 20.1.2008, from Read More