Finding Energy Efficiency Gold

September 2021 --

Past Supplier Wire installments have touched on establishing baselines, setting meaningful energy reduction goals, and strategies to reduce energy use to meet goals.

In this issue we delve deeper into cost-free assessments that identify low and no cost easy-fix opportunities, aka ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunts. During a treasure hunt, teams walk around a facility looking for quick ways to save energy. Those quick fixes can add up to big savings. Hundreds of organizations have used Energy Treasure Hunts to reduce their facilities’ energy use by up to 15 percent.

This short video outlines the four steps to hosting a successful a hunt.

When you are ready to “dig in” let the Energy Treasure Hunt Guide be your compass. The guide is full of helpful resources and it details these four distinct phases of a Treasure Hunt: 1) Preparation; 2) Pre-Training; 3) Onsite event; 4) Follow-up.   You’ll find a step-by-step guide and numerous helpful resources like sample meeting agendas, team structures, data collection sheets, calculators, and much more.

While each treasure hunt is its own exciting journey, the low and no cost gold often comes from similar buckets outlined in detail in the Treasure Map for Manufacturing Plants: equipment scheduling and setpoints, compressed air, motors, hot water and steam systems, pumps and piping systems, fans, lighting, building envelope, plug loads, HVAC, and chillers. You can add a licensed energy engineer to your treasure hunt team to identify even more technical and capital projects within these categories.

Organizations are also finding ways to to adjust to safety precautions and social distancing requirements. This tip sheet for Energy Treasure Hunts During Covid-19 explains how.

So, “hearties”, “mutiny” against energy waste and “bring a spring upon her cable” by getting your ENERGY STAR Treasure Hunt “sea legs” today!