First Year Analysis of Industrial Energy Conservation in Texas A&M's Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center Program

Abstract

Texas A&M University's Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center (EADC) performed 15 energy audits of small- to medium-size manufacturing plants during its first year. The EADC program is funded by the United States Department of Energy and managed by the University City Science Center, a non-profit organization, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the EADC is to identify and recommend specific opportunities to conserve energy. In addition, the EADC may identify and recommend opportunities to reduce operating costs, but which do not conserve any energy. The EADC accomplishes its mission through careful analysis of the relationship between the energy utilized and the operating characteristics of the plants. The EADC recommended 109 energy conservation opportunities (ECOs) in 15 energy audits, an average of seven ECOs per audit. The 109 recommendations are divided into four groups: Electrical Energy ECOs, Natural Gas ECOs, Non-Energy Saving ECOs, and Opportunity ECOs. This paper will briefly discuss the EADC method of energy auditing and reporting, the four groups of ECOs in detail, and the implementation of the ECOs.