2015 Energy Management Study: Reducing energy consumption on the plant floor

Respondents to the Plant Engineering 2015 Energy Management Study identified six high-level findings impacting the manufacturing industries today. See findings and access full report.

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Respondents to the Plant Engineering 2015 Energy Management Study identified six high-level findings impacting the manufacturing industries today:

1. Energy audits: Forty-eight percent of facilities conduct regular energy audits. Of those facilities, 62% perform them annually, 7% twice a year, and 16% quarterly. Aside from audits, 76% of plants monitor energy usage regularly—up 12% from 2014.
   
   
2. Challenges: Top challenges to energy management programs continue to be acquiring resources from corporate or management (34%), calculating return on investment (27%), and educating workers on the goals and objectives (26%).
   
   
3. Energy reduction: On average, manufacturing facilities are trying to reduce their energy usage by 9.1%. Thirty-seven percent of respondents are convinced that they’re goals are achievable, while 53% are less confident but still optimistic.
   
   
4. Implementation: Thirty-eight percent of respondents reported success with implementing an energy management program within their facilities, while 19% are just starting to employ such a program.
   
   
5. Local utilities: Two-thirds of facilities work with their local utility companies to develop energy strategies, 81% of which reported a cooperative partnership. Three in 10 manufacturing plants have a peak load sharing program with their utilities, and 96% said it has been an overall success—nearly half of which experienced no problems along the way.
   
   
6. Alternative energy: Of the 52% of facilities that use alternative energy sources, 43% use co-generation, 36% use solar, 31% use wind, and 21% use nuclear.

Access the full 2015 Energy Management report with additional findings.

- Amanda Pelliccione is Director of Research, Plant Engineering, CFE Media.