Compressed air systems are notoriously inefficient. However, there are proven ways to improve their energy usage, which include tracking down leaks and installing new energy-efficient equipment. (See “Opportunities to improve efficiency in compressed air systems.”) According to the U.S. Department of Energy, small- to medium-sized industrial facilities can improve compressed air system efficiency by 15 [...]

Tapping into focus group insight is a tried-and-true way to find strengths and weaknesses in almost any situation. In December 2011, NV Energy engaged a professional research firm to conduct qualitative focus group research with contractors who participated in the Sure Bet Commercial Incentive Program. The focus groups provided an opportunity to learn how participating [...]

Power factor correction is nothing new. Electric utility companies have been correcting poor system power factor with capacitors for many decades. The devices marketed to facility owners to improve power factor are not mysterious, although the way they are advertised can make them seem that way.

Data centers are large, growing energy consumers with unique energy use profiles. How rapid is that growth? In a 2007 report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) forecast that server and data center energy use would double by 2010. But, an independent report published in 2011, Growth in data center electricity use 2005 to 2010, [...]

It’s barely been a year since the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published new global energy management system standards; however, support for these guidelines is already taking root across the United States. ISO 50001 was released in June 2011 to provide a framework for energy management system development and implementation. According to ISO, the new [...]