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Energy Audit Case Study I
Date: September 2004
Location: Hong Kong
This sanitised, energy briefing is one element of a comprehensive energy audit report conducted by Kelcroft E&M Limited.
An energy audit uncovered several opportunities to conserve energy, lower operating costs and saving money. One particular discovery, was particularly interesting and worth further discussion.
The Kelcroft energy audit identified a condenser water circulation pump operating
24/7 - yes twenty four hours per day seven days a week.
Investigation revealed that an automatic control system
motor control panel had been modified, the control portion bypassed.
Don't watch your profits go up in smoke
Staff interviews provided no clues, therefore it was not possible to establish
how many years this pump had been operating continuously.
Although we may never know the reason, the pump control circuit had been
circumvented, the modification was most probably conducted during maintenance
activities as a temporary measure and was not restored.
However, the work was never re-inspected to confirm that the panel was properly reinstated.
Numbers
Energy conservation is economics driven - the goal to identify and evaluate
feasible energy cost savings, and their monetary value.
In this case, a risk free corrective action would save more than HK$30,000 per
annum, with a simple payback period measured in weeks.
Customer comfort, and service standard would not be affected.
In addition, restoring the correct operating mode extends the economic lifespan
of the pump, and associated services, helping to lower operating expenses (OPex).
Energy Audit Case study
Energy auditing identifies energy cost and energy savings
Saving waste benefits the environment too, this corrective action would also save approx. 18,000 kg of carbon dioxide (saved emissions) every year.
click here to read energy brief II
Lessons learned
Properly conducted inspections are essential to maintain systems operating at
their peak efficiency. Don't overlook the small stuff, all equipment large or
small operating unnecessarily wastes energy.
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