Best Practices

New Motor Market Assessment CD!

The United States Industrial Electric Motor Systems Market Opportunities Assessment is a BestPractices Motors document that has been published in CD format. It is still available for downloading on the BestPractices Motors Web site. Read More!

Electric motor-driven systems consume 23 percent of all electricity sold in the United States, and account for 64 percent of industrial electrical energy consumption. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, industrial motor energy use could be reduced 11-18 percent (62-104 billion kWh per year) if industrial facilities took advantage of all available efficiency measures. These projected savings are valued at $3-5 billion per year and would decrease annual carbon emissions by 15-26 million metric tons.

Approximately 28 percent of the savings opportunity can be achieved through more efficient motors; the rest can be addressed through motor systems opportunities.

Two of the most important and common motor driven systems are centrifugal fan and pump systems. System performance optimization typically focuses on optimizing flows to meet end use requirements. Significant energy efficiency opportunities arise from the fact that power consumption of centrifugal fans and pumps varies as the cube of the speed while output varies linearly. Adjusting fan or pump speed as flow requirements change rather than throttling the flow can yield impressive reductions in energy consumption.

The Industrial Technologies Program (DOE) has gathered together BestPractices resources–publications, software tools, and training information–that's specific to motor systems. Some can be read or downloaded, others can be ordered from the OIT Clearinghouse. Tip sheets, case studies, software, etc. More . . .