Industrial and commercial businesses and institutions searching for ways to reduce energy costs can attend two U.S. Department of Energy workshops planned for western Pennsylvania during mid-April.

A process heating workshop will be held on April 13 in the DEP Pittsburgh Regional Office, and a Steam System Assessment workshop is set for April 19 in Erie.

The workshops are provided through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Industrial Technology "Best Practices" Program.

The day-long events focus on reducing process energy consumption and provide attendees with copies of DOE's energy assessment software tools. Energy-saving fact sheets, case studies and additional program resources are available on the EERE website.

The process heating workshop is co-sponsored by the Southwest Pennsylvania Energy Efficiency & Pollution Prevention Roundtable, the Electro-Technology Applications Center at Penn State McKeesport and the DEP Office of Energy & Technology Deployment.

The workshop will be taught by DOE Energy Specialist Dennis Quinn and will provide an introduction to process heating concepts and equipment, such as furnaces, ovens, dryers, heaters and kilns. The discussion of advanced technologies and operating practices will offer significant energy saving opportunities. According to the DOE, nearly 5.2 quadrillion Btu, or 17 percent of all industrial energy use, is consumed annually by process heating equipment.

For more information or to register for the workshop call or e-mail Roxanne Daykon at 412-675-9049 or rxd18@psu.edu .

The Steam System Assessment workshop on April 19 is being held in conjunction with the Manufacturers' Association Conference Center in Erie. The workshop is co-sponsored by National Fuel, The Pollution Prevention Roundtable for NW PA Business and Industry, and DEP's Office of Energy & Technology Deployment.

DOE Energy Specialist Dr. Steven Terry will lead the discussion of steam system operation and efficiency improvements. This workshop offers significant opportunities for attendees to reduce fuel costs associated with raising steam. More than 45 percent of all fuel consumed by U.S. manufacturers is used to raise steam.

Contact the Manufacturers' Association of Northwest Pennsylvania to register for the workshop by calling 814-833-3200 or visit their website.

4/7/2006