Baldor’s EnergyGuide Labels Provide Insight Into Savings

Baldor Electric Company recently began to supply bright yellow EnergyGuide labels with all Baldor Super-Er premium efficient motors, providing plant engineers with an opportunity to view potential energy savings before they install the motor. Baldor's EnergyGuide labels are similar to the yellow tags used on home appliances.

By Baldor Electric November 1, 2001

Baldor Electric Company recently began to supply bright yellow EnergyGuide labels with all Baldor Super-Epremium efficient motors, providing plant engineers with an opportunity to view potential energy savings before they install the motor. Baldor’s EnergyGuide labels are similar to the yellow tags used on home appliances. Plant engineers will be able to see the Super-E’s estimated annual dollar savings over a standard motor before opening the motor carton. The new labels will also provide the motor’s estimated yearly cost of electricity when operated continuously.

Electricity accounts for more than 97% of the lifetime cost of an industrial electric motor. Purchase price, installation and repair costs are less than 3%. Baldor Super-E motors can reduce electricity use by up to 9% annually. A Department of Energy study states that electric motors use 63% of all electricity used by U.S. industry and 25% of all electricity used in the United States. The DOE study suggests that this energy could be reduced by as much as 18% using, "proven cost effective technologies," including premium efficient industrial electric motors.

"Many plant engineers are surprised when they see how much it costs to operate an electric motor," says John McFarland, Baldor President and CEO. "For example, a 30-hp motor can consume more than $22,000 in electricity if operated continuously for a year. A Baldor Super-E premium efficient motor can reduce that cost by nearly $1,200 per year. That’s close to the purchase price of the new Super-E motor. Plant engineers face rising electrical rates and the responsibility of operating their plants efficiently. We have an aggressive national marketing campaign underway to show them how quickly energy savings can improve their bottom line. We believe our new EnergyGuide label will help get this point across."

Baldor’s national marketing campaign includes new advertising in trade magazines, sales literature and counter displays for distributors, and emphasis at trade shows. Baldor also offers a SAVE+ software tool free to plant engineers to assist them in calculating energy savings. Baldor’s 40 sales offices in North America are conducting local seminars to inform customers of its energy saving opportunities.

Baldor is also working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as they develop an "Energy Star" program for electric motors. Found on many consumer appliances, the EPA’s Energy Star symbol promotes those products that are the most energy efficient. The EPA hopes to expand the Energy Star program to industrial motors later this year, as was recommended by the Bush Administration’s National Energy Policy Report.

In addition to premium efficient industrial electric motors, the Department of Energy has indicated that "application and process improvements yield the highest energy saving." In many motor applications throughout an industrial plant, the motor’s performance can be enhanced by the addition of an adjustable speed drive. According to the Wisconsin Center for Demand-Side Research, many applications for pumps and compressors could deliver savings up to 25%; fans, blowers and central refrigeration systems up to 35%; and boiler fans and feedwater pumps as high as 50%.

For additional information on Baldor Super-E premium efficient motors, SAVE+ software, and adjustable speed drives, call 1-800-828-4920. Ask for BR457 and the "Making Energy Efficiency Work For You" brochure. For more information on Baldor and Baldor products visit www.baldor.com .