New Tool Knocks Down Barriers to Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvements

Rising energy prices have made more industrial energy efficiency and process improvement projects viable from a cost-effectiveness perspective. Simple paybacks have dropped, sometimes greatly, and many project returns on investment are almost “no brainers.” However, many industrial customers are still not implementing energy efficiency projects. Why? Many barriers stop industrial customers from taking action. This paper discusses four primary barriers and offers one new way to overcome them: a software tool called EnComp ® . This software runs on a handheld pocket personal computer for ease of use and portability. Several technology modules are currently functional and new ones are being developed, based on client requests. Twenty years’ experience with conducting industrial energy audits led to EnComp’s development. Users enter data about a customer’s equipment and operations into the EnComp software while conducting an on-site visit. Then, the user can begin quickly evaluating potential changes, such as energy efficiency upgrades or process adjustments. EnComp will produce quantifiable estimates of project payback and return on investment. EnComp allows the technical expert and the customer to compare and evaluate multiple energy efficiency opportunities. This ability to run multiple scenarios and quickly assess the most cost-effective opportunities helps the customer determine how one potential improvement may complement or conflict with another one. EnComp’s features address a key challenge in today’s volatile energy marketplace: effectively managing rising energy costs. The volatility of today’s markets demand that facility managers have the best tools at their disposal to manage energy use and costs.