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2015 Energy Management Study

Plant Engineering 2015 Energy Management Study

Reducing energy consumption on the plant floor

Amanda Pelliccione

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

  1. Source: Plant Engineering, CFE MediaEnergy 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.

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