Monitoring program for energy reduction in a manufacturing plant

 

1. Introduction

Primarily, energy monitoring and targeting is a management approach that makes use of information related to energy as the main element for eliminating waste, reducing and controlling present energy usage levels, and improving the existing procedures for operation (Abrahamse et al., 2005; Anderson and White, 2009; Burgess and Nye, 2008; Capgemini, 2008; Chaiklin and Lave, 1993; Em-ea.org, n.d.). Basically, it is built on the ideology that "you can’t manage what you don’t measure." Essentially, it does combine the principles of energy use and statistics.

The major difference between the two approaches is that the essential aim of monitoring is to establish the current energy consumption pattern, while target aims to identify the energy consumption level that is desired as a management goal when working towards energy conservation (Abrahamse et al., 2005; Anderson and White, 2009; Burgess and Nye, 2008; Capgemini, 2008; Chaiklin and Lave, 1993; Em-ea.org, n.d.). In line with that understanding, this research aims to develop a monitoring program for an energy company in Malaysia and Vietnam. The aim is that whatever is developed will be applicable in different nations.

2. What purpose does an energy monitoring program serve?

The primary goal of an energy monitoring program is to identify current energy consumption patterns and use those patterns to create an improved consumption pattern that reduces waste and increases energy efficiency.

3. Describe the steps that would be taken to initiate this program.

In order to produce the desired result, a number of steps need to be taken into consideration when designing and executing the energy monitoring program. They are as described below.

1. Recording: This involves measuring and recording energy consumption to determine actual consumption volume.
2. Analyzing—this involves correlating the energy consumption with an estimated output, such as the production quantity.
3. Comparing: The energy consumption is then compared to a given standard or set benchmark.
4. Setting targets: the right targets are set to reduce overall energy consumption.
5. Monitoring: The energy consumption is regularly compared with the set target on a daily basis.
6. Reporting: The results are then reported to highlight any variance from the set target.
7. Controlling: management measures are then implemented in order to correct any variance that might have occurred.
8. Checking: The accuracy of the energy invoice is continuously checked for clarity measures.
9. Allocating: energy costs will then be allocated to the different departments (through energy accounting centers).
10. Determining—the process then determines the actual energy performance and efficiency.
11. Recording: The energy usage is recorded in order to ensure that efficiency improvement measures can easily be checked.
12. Highlighting: The final stage is to highlight the issues and problems related to the performance of equipment and systems. Such highlights will be later corrected to ensure overall enhancement in both the performance of the machine and the outcome of the whole process. (Source: Em-ea.org, n.d.)
13. Rationale for an Energy Monitoring Program

The amount of energy utilized by any given business does vary with production processes, inputs, and volumes. In order to determine the relationship between energy use and performance, it is important to determine the following, which represents reasons why energy monitoring is more important than other energy practices (because they make obtaining such information possible):

1. It helps to determine if the present energy usage pattern is better or worse than the previous one.
2. It helps to determine the trends in energy consumption, which are influenced by seasonal, weekly, and other operational parameters.
3. It helps to determine the expected variance from future energy if changes are experienced in any aspect of the business.
4. It helps to determine specific areas where energy is wasted.
5. Information from monitoring can be used to compare other businesses with similar features, thus providing a benchmarking process that will be used to provide valuable indications of how effective our operations in terms of energy usage are.
6. It can be used to measure the extent to which businesses have reacted to past changes.
7. It can also be used to develop performance targets for an energy management program (source: em-ea.org, n.d.).

Basically, an energy monitoring program is very important for businesses because it helps them understand their present energy usage rate (good or bad) and the factors that influence such a rate. With this knowledge, the company will be able to better understand the factors that influence energy waste and eliminate them in order to improve its overall energy usage efficiency. As such, it will be able to reduce energy costs in the process.

1.      References

Abrahamse, W, Steg, L, Vlek, C and Rothengatter, T (2005) A review of intervention studies aimed at household energy conservation. Journal of Environmental Psychology 25, 273-291

Anderson, W and White, V (2009) Exploring the functionality of real-time home energy displays. Report to the Energy Saving Trust. Centre for Sustainable Energy, Bristol.

Burgess, J and Nye, M (2008) Re-materialising energy use through transparent monitoring systems. Energy Policy 36 (12), 4454-4459

Capgemini (2008) Demand Response: a decisive breakthrough for Europe. Capgemini in collaboration with VaasaETT and Enerdata

Chaiklin, S and Lave, J (1993) Understanding practice: perspectives on activity and context. Cambridge University Press, UK.

Em-ea.org (n.d.). Energy Monitoring and Targeting. Available at: http://www.em-ea.org/guide%20books/book-1/1.8%20monitoring%20&%20targetting.pdf [Accessed on: 22^rd-11-2014].