This article series provides specific examples of how engineers can identify and address --at relatively little or no cost --the principal sources of energy waste in their production facilities. Part one focuses on facility and machine power use and motors and drives. Part two will focus on energy reuse and application-specific energy savings.
　　Sidebars:
　　How variable frequency drives reduce energy costs
　　Reusing energy via a common dc bus
　　As an engineer, you’re faced with countless areas t

o target with the goal of gaining greater efficiencies. Despite the recent plunge in some energy prices控制工程网版权所有, there’s still really no better place to focus your efforts than on your facility’s energy use. Those prices won’t stay low for long, which means the steps you take now to cut energy costs will actually increase in value to the business as time goes on.
　　This article series is designed to highlight the more straightforward and easily remedied energy concerns in both discrete and process manufacturing plants. Basic advice on how to identify and address these issues is provided for each area covered.
　　Facility and machine power usage
　　An important first step for engineers interested in managing their facility’s energy usage is to understand how much energy they are consuming and how they are using the energy, says Corey Mortonwww.cechina.cn, product manager with B&R. “This can easily be done by working with local utilities, using portable measurement devices控制工程网版权所有, or installing energy measurement devices控制工程网版权所有,” he says.

　　Because the industrial sector accounts for the largest portion of energy consumption in the U.S., the inherent potential for significant savings is also greater.
　　Morton says one of the easiest ways to address energy usage is for engineers to observe the way their plant operates to enact an energy management discipline known as “load shedding.” “For example, consider a plant that runs two production shifts控制工程网版权所有,” he says. “Many of their operations may be pneumatic, and are suppl