The U.S. Department of Energy this week opened registration on its Save Energy Now website for a second round of targeted energy assessments. DOE will offer 250 industrial pump, fan, and compressed air system assessments nationwide during 2007.

The 2007 assessments add a focus on reducing electrical energy use, in addition to reducing natural gas consumption.

Manufacturers interested in reducing natural gas or electric energy costs may register for an assessment by visiting the Save Energy Now website

Also for 2007, manufacturer eligibility requirements for have been broadened to include any manufacturer with total energy consumption exceeding one-trillion Btu's annually.

The Department of Environmental Protection encourages all Commonwealth manufacturers to take advantage of these valuable no-cost resources, and many manufacturers are already taking part.

Pennsylvania manufacturers will sponsor 13 DOE process heating and steam system assessments through 2006 and at least 11 by DOE's university-based Industrial Assessment Centers for mid-sized manufacturers.

Assessments performed during 2006 are targeting 200 of the nation's largest users of natural gas. Early results from the initiative yielded projected natural gas savings approaching $288 million from only 154 assessments conducted through September 2006. This amounts to conserving 32 trillion Btu's of energy, enough to heat nearly 430,000 homes annually.

Savings of $35 million have been documented from implemented assessment recommendations from only 15 plant assessment follow-up reports received to date. These numbers exclude the energy savings achieved by nearly 500 mid-size manufacturers assessed by Industrial Assessment Centers, and hundreds of small manufacturers that benefited through Save Energy Now literature and resource mailings.

There are manufacturer eligibility requirements, and a 50 percent cost share may be required of any business assessed during the 2006 that registers for a second energy system assessment in 2007. Manufacturers unsure of their total energy use and eligibility will still benefit by registering.

An automatic referral system will direct ineligible industries to the DOE Industrial Assessment Center nearest their location.

Small industries, commercial businesses, institutions, and municipalities self-assessing energy use reduction opportunities should visit DOE's Industrial Technology Program "Best Practices" webpage to download fact sheets, case studies, energy system software tools and manuals at no cost.

These resources can also be obtained on DOE's Save Energy Now CD by contacting Richard Illig at DEP's Office of Energy & Technology Deployment at 717-772-5834.

10/7/2006