| With energy prices taking a back seat to | | | | population's electrical energy usage patterns. |
| concerns about the overall economy, it would be | | | | Location |
| easy to put off dealing with long-term energy | | | | Alternative energy options are often location |
| supplies. However, this is not the time to be | | | | specific. For example, a facility fortunate enough |
| complacent. These last few months in particular | | | | to be located near a premium geological heat |
| are likely a prelude to a longer term rollercoaster | | | | source can probably make geothermal the |
| ride of energy prices, especially the dizzying | | | | centerpiece of its energy system. Effective |
| peaks. That the power transmission system is | | | | solar-based generation depends on the number of |
| antiquated and unreliable with no solution in sight | | | | clear days which are available, and that is often |
| simply adds urgency to the overall need to deal | | | | geographically specific too. |
| with energy issues. And with economic | | | | For most companies the choices are more limited. |
| uncertainty comes the need to contain costs, | | | | But those that can take advantage of geographic |
| especially energy expenditures. | | | | circumstances may reap large benefits. |
| Fortunately, options are available. Forward-thinking, | | | | Fortunately, a number of alternate energy |
| innovative companies continue to develop | | | | sources are not restricted by location. This |
| solutions. Some technologies that will prove the | | | | multitude of options means that no one gets left |
| most useful are mature and ready to go. Others | | | | out when it comes to taking advantage of |
| are still in development but are close to realization. | | | | economic and green energy resources. |
| These technologies provide unprecedented | | | | Efficiency through Recycling |
| opportunities to upgrade or fundamentally change | | | | Many businesses have scrap or waste products |
| the way energy needs are managed. | | | | that may represent nascent opportunities for |
| Environmental Factors | | | | economic gain. In facilities that have high |
| It is true that going green is golden. First there is | | | | temperature processes there is often a great |
| the potential for cost savings through the use of | | | | deal of wasted heat that can be readily |
| "free fuel" technologies such as wind power and | | | | recovered. Every BTU generated requires fuel to |
| solar. Installing wind power generation capacity | | | | make, so exhausting heat from a furnace, for |
| means eliminating the cost of fuel and the | | | | example, has a cost. Every BTU recovered from |
| overhead of an outside supplier. This could result | | | | a waste stream reduces the amount of fuel |
| in an attractive ROI against the costs of | | | | required to do that job. The idea is hardly new. |
| installation. In addition, having pollution-free energy | | | | Heat recovery systems for furnace exhaust date |
| generation can help your company develop a | | | | to the 19th century when James Howden was |
| green image. | | | | awarded U.S. patent No. 00288437 in 1883. |
| An environmentally friendly company has an edge | | | | Paper mills, for example, can achieve significant |
| in terms of public perception, too. In consumer | | | | savings by burning the wood scraps that cannot |
| markets, being green can translate into sales. For | | | | be used in paper making. The wood scraps they |
| industrial companies, the value is more in terms of | | | | normally dispose of are instead used to fire the |
| public relations. Either way, converting to green | | | | boilers used in their process and generate their |
| energy provides an added bonus in upgrading a | | | | own electricity. SMART Papers is in the process |
| company's image. | | | | of converting its Hamilton mill to biomass and is on |
| Energy Independence | | | | track to be free of fossil fuels in 2009. In fact, it |
| Energy independence isn't simply something | | | | expects to be selling excess power to the state |
| politicians dream up during presidential campaigns. | | | | power grid in 2010. |
| As a practical matter, the independence they | | | | Solutions |
| speak of is probably unattainable in the | | | | Every company has unique energy needs. |
| foreseeable future. However, companies can | | | | Recognizing and addressing those needs will likely |
| achieve a degree of independence in their | | | | be based on answering the basic question, "What |
| day-to-day operations. Finding the right alternative | | | | energy source is right for you?" Solar? |
| energy sources, such as geothermal, solar, or | | | | Geothermal? Biofuels? Heat recovery? The |
| wind, can also help companies contain costs by | | | | answer must take into consideration a number of |
| allowing them to seize control of supply as well as | | | | factors that affect the types and demands of |
| demand. | | | | energy usage necessary to support operations. It |
| For businesses in areas subject to brownouts or | | | | is possible that the best option involves more than |
| blackouts, controlling the energy source is critical. | | | | one of these new energy technologies to provide |
| Consider what Fred Schultz, VP of Equity | | | | the best energy supply. This is not a new concept |
| Research at Raymond James & Associates, | | | | as many processing or manufacturing operations |
| said back in 2000, "The United States loses $40 | | | | are already multi-source. The regional power |
| to $50 billion in productivity each year because of | | | | company provides electricity for the facilities and |
| lost electricity. And as we move to a more digital | | | | the machinery while a petroleum company |
| economy, those numbers will increase | | | | provides the hydrocarbon based fuel for the |
| exponentially." We've moved to that more digital | | | | vehicles. |
| economy and it is likely that his estimate is short | | | | The best answer for your energy requirements |
| by half or more. | | | | will very likely mean a multisource strategy. To |
| Companies that supply their own energy can | | | | meet this challenge, you need an advisor with |
| design systems to fit their needs so load control | | | | expertise across the wide spectrum of energy |
| and peak usage are not issues. This can be far | | | | technologies available. Nerac analysts offer a wide |
| better than having to deal with the limitations | | | | range of experience from battery design and |
| imposed by a power company's potentially poor | | | | engineering to green technologies to advise |
| judgment or being subject to the vagaries of a | | | | companies on solutions that work for them. |