SAMPLE CHINA LIGHT POWER Electricity bill from www.clpgroup.com

From the professional energy management perspective monthly billing is too coarse, over the billing period there are too many variables to consider. We recommend weekly monitoring,  and predictions of next weeks energy consumption.

Let me share a true story from here in Hong Kong,  a property management company managed a high rise residential property. Bills arrived (for the common areas) and were paid.  Then they received a water bill  approx. HK$ 160,000 – many  times higher than normal.  Shocked and certain it was not their problem they requested the Water Authority to check there water meter – that was the second mistake to assume it must be a meter problem, the first mistake was not monitoring consumption.

Time passes, the next water bill arrived it was higher, HK$ 220,000, again much higher than normal. Eventually, the Water Authority reported back, no fault with the metering or billing.   You have probably guessed, it was a water leak within the development after the meter. It’s a timely reminder to encourage closer monitoring of all utilities bills, every week, and don’t assume that an abnormally high consumption is a metering problem.  Beyond the professionals in the industry, people automatically assume that it must be a metering problem! Whereas 21st century metering does not suffer from the problems your parents suffered through,  indeed today meters are robust and accurate.

~~~ John Herbert, Consultant

Unlike other events, this was focused more towards SME business, which has been largely left out of the EE arena, since most of government effort has been focused on State Owned Enterprise (SOE) and there industries.
Indeed we were fortunate to meet a number of vendors actively promoting EE and green products, and clients seeking improved energy efficiency solutions.

Energy auditing and energy assessments are still far from common place in China, and getting the message of fuel savings, results in cost and environmental savings is by no means an simple task. It is clear that advanced fuel saving designs including free cooling, heat recovery, and thermal storage need detailed explanation, and often met with disbelief.

Much if not all of this critical sector has expanded rapidly and is too focused on new/clean technology  in my view.  The holy grail for energy and environmental protection, it is not clean technology.  Sure, new technologies have been introduced such as LED lighting, and is gaining ground.

However, smart energy solutions depend on the correct application and operation, and if the operators burn electricity using LED lighting on all day because is consumes a little energy, we will be back to square one very shortly.  Facilities engineering solutions are not sexy, they often have no cost – those are the best solutions.

Additionally, one single technology will not be able to solve every type of problem, a classic example is the IMM (Injection Moulding Machine ) common across South China and the PRD.  Each machine has a heating, cooling, and hydraulic pumping components, and the energy conservation strategies would be different and dependent on the component.  Combining or bundling different solutions together, needs talented a consultant.

– John Herbert energyLAB Consultant

HVAC equipment and industrial machinery are designed to operate at the peak capacity, to handle the worst case scenario.  However, during normal operation periods of partial load occur when the load is less than the design load.

For example, comfort cooling air conditioning systems operate for 99% of the year inside the design condition, particularly the autumn and spring months demand less capacity and injection molding machines hydraulics cycle through full load to no load, and back to full load.

Control by Obstruction

Motors are dynamic, driving equipment that moves fluids, hydraulic fluid, water, or air, from one place to where it is needed.  Without variable speed motor control we need an additional device to either bypass or create an artificial resistance to flow.  Briefly, there are two primary means of operation:

Relief

In this situation a valve or other device might be used to divert the excess flow under part load conditions.  Commonly used applications include:

1. the differential pressure relief for chilled water systems and injection molding machines;
2. the hot gas bypass used in refrigeration systems and chillers;

Restriction

In this situation, a device is installed to create an artificial pressure loss, and therefore reducing the flow rate.  Common applications include:

1. Inlet vanes used on centrifugal fans;

1. Regulating valves used on hydraulic systems;

However, both modes waste energy. To capitalize on the potential energy saving, the speed and hence the power consumption of the motor needs to be lowered during part load conditions.

Solutions

One solution is the tried and tested VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) it is an electronic motor speed controller that varies the motor speed to match the required load.  During periods of part load operation,  lower speeds translate into reduced power consumption, and operating cost savings.

Even a relatively small speed reduction provides attractive energy savings.  for example reducing the speed of 1500 rpm motor by 150 RPM (approximately 10%) equates to a power reduction of  27%.

Because a VFD can vary the motor speed from zero RPM thorough to full speed, it reduces the mechanical and electrical shock and stresses during normal operation extending the operating life of your plant and equipment.

– John Herbert, Consultant

Buy the most efficient motor available, and keep it clean.

Electric motors account for nearly sixty percent (60%) of the global electricity consumption!  Comparing the total life operating cost with the first cost is instructive. Typically the CapEx (capital cost) is only 1 % of the total cost of ownership (e.g. 20- 25 years lifespan for HVAC equipment) Additionally, during the first year of operation a motor will consume electricity to cover its CapEx value, considering the life time cost purchasing the most efficient motor is very cost effective investment.

Look after your motors

Thirty years ago I visited facilities with a real boilerman, he did more than just operate the boiler, but that was his title. Perhaps boilerperson would be politically correct today.  Back then, he was a rare breed,  and fiercely proud of his domain.  Upon entering any plant room you were greeted by gleaming plates,  gauges, copper and brass polished bright,  polished cladding, the room itself fit for dining, but not today cleanliness has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

One popular and possibly most annoying pastime of today’s fitter is over-painting equipment labels,  indeed it’s seems to be compulsory. Yet it still holds true today, a clean facility will have fewer problems.

One obvious and often overlooked matter is electric motors,  simply keeping the cooling fins clean maintains the heat transfer efficiency from the motor fins to the surrounding air. The failure to follow simple maintenance procedures can be costly, allowing motor winding temperature to exceed the manufacturers rating by 5 DegC halves the operating life of the motor! Keep the plant and motors clean.

– John Herbert, consultant, energyLAB

Recently I was talking to a colleague about the pervasive use of the “percentage”.  You will have seen the advertising offering up to 30% energy savings ,  and no doubt you will have seen NGO’s giving awards for 25% percent energy savings!

It’s a great marketing, but not science.

1. When a system or building is performing poorly,  it’s a simple matter to find one time savings, try to find another 30% saving in the second year!
2. Good data is critical, don’t compare apples with pears.  For example, if building operation in year one 24/7, and in year two it is only 9-5. Just comparing the operating annual cost, magically you have made tremendous energy savings. Quoting these raw cost savings, without a good  metric or benchmark is quick, easy and misleading.  For systems influenced by the weather  i.e.  air conditioning and winter heating,  adjusting the data using degree days takes account of weather variations.
3. Benchmark  – comparing your system, or annual operation cost to an industry standard is a meaningful, however finding a benchmark can be difficult indeed.

Some advisers that can’t do the math to quantifying the energy and cost savings,  so revert to percentage generalisations – Don’t try fool your client -  give data not generalisations.

Pitching your cost saving solution is not always easy, simply stating an energy saving is often dry, and frankly difficult for the majority of people to grasp.  Use an illustrative comparison that can be easily visualised.

For example, our proposal will save xxxx $ -  that’s the same as saving as driving 100,000 km per year.  Choose a comparison that can be readily identified, so your manager can see an image and the savings.

- John A. Herbert, consultant

On the whole, the updated carbon audit standard is largely unchanged the major difference being the changes to the emission factors. However whilst minor, the whole revised standard has been released as one document.

- John Herbert

related: Carbon Auditing standards

Carbon management and energy consultants energyLAB limited  (http://www.energylab.hk) will be represented at the EcoAsiaExpo 2009.  Come visit us at booth 5C13 – we are part of the Hong Kong pavilion.

energyLAB’s  energy and carbon expertise helps business reduce energy consumption, costs, and carbon through the latest managerial and technology applications.

http://emsweb.hktdc.com/ebmsnew/oep/oep_p2_details.aspx?oc=01&cc=ECOOEP&OrderNbr=494655

Hong Kong Pavilion Handbook

有效能源方案正建築在亞洲企業。E n e rgyLAB 是你們主要業務伙伴， 我們能夠識 別已浪費之能源而得到充份使用， 通過有效能源方案， 從而降低閣下的營運成本。 預防勝於治療， 作為能源供應商的主導， 配合閣下業務需要， 提供專業的審計分 析， 減少污染､溫室氣體及碳排放量。

Solution focused energy architect for business in Asia. EnergyLAB is your key partner we identify wasted energy, and energy solutions to lowering your operating costs. Prevention is better than cure, as a leading energy service provider energyLAB works with corporations, auditing operations to reduce pollution, GHG, and carbon emissions.

click here to register for your pass to ecoasiaexpo 2009 today

UPDATE 27-10-2009

Today I just recieved the “welcome pack” for or energyLAB booth 5c13, and it says there is a FREE shuttle service to the venue!  So I have saved the link the schedule here

One year ago

Only year one ago, Mr John Herbert energy efficiency presentation at ecoasiaexpo 2008:

click image to download 4.42 MB PDF - English version

Last Thursday (14 May 2009)  John Herbert attended the Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF) launch ceremony for the new Carbon guide entitled “Capitalising On Business Opportunity” download your copy here http://www.climatechangebusinessforum.com,  strangely is actually host by another firm here is link for PDF format be aware its 4.42 Mb file.

At the launch, CCBF Chairman and Executive Council convenor Mr Leung Chun-ying said Now is the time for Hong Kong businesses to reduce their GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) to help combat climate change, and there are opportunities for businesses small and large to respond to the demand for goods and services that involved the production of fewer greenhouse gases. Mr Leung said “The guide does not say when we should do it because we believe the time is now“.

For 98% of businesses,  the reality is that their “carbon load” is their energy consumption, but it takes a while to get the message across. HongkongLand’s contribution pictured right, is the most relevant for building energy efficiency, a top ten list, including an annual energy audit recommendation making the list at no. 7.

Practice what you preach?

CCBF should practice what is it preaching,closely linked to BEC, they are located in the BEC Jockey Club building in Kowloon Tong that is still using air-cooled chillers nine (9) years after the introduction of the new code for water cooled chiller. Interesting that just opposite the BEC building, a commercially operated shopping mall has already upgraded to energy saving water cooled chillers and is enjoying the benifits of lower operating costs.

Click graphic to download CLSA's report

As the New Work Times reports US Venture Capitalists are now starting to moving on the energy efficiency sector. Perhaps it has finally sunken into the conciousness that an 80% IRR on energy efficiency projects are regularly achieved. However, the double standard remains, whilst prepared to invest in capital plant and buildings with a very long Return on Investment, the hurdles for an energy improvement project in that facility is set very low indeed. Generally, the standard five years, became three, and now twelve months is often demanded.

Outlook
A short term outlook under estimates the realities that organisations are facing,  inaction today can only result in draconian knee jerk reactions further down the road.  CLSA’s vivid (Sept 2008) report aptly titled Panic Button offers a very stark view of the result, and cost today’s  inaction.  In a future of procrastination, it predicts that Governments will delay and delay, until they are forced to invoke instant and dramatic measures,  reminiscent of the second world war impositions, and only those who have already prepared and implemented energy efficiency improvement measures have a chance to survive. If the Government demanded a 50% cut in energy consumption by the end of the week most operations would fold or lower production by 50% risking revenues.

A some point in time, the environmental and carbon cost must be counted, revenues will plummet, and CEO’s will cry they never saw the writing on the wall.

The accumulation of dust and dirt is a primary cause of operational energy inefficiency. Dust and dirt blocks air flow increasing air resistance, and lowers heat exchanger efficiency. Where it accumulates on fan it lowers the fan efficiency. Dust finds its way into motors and bearings causing overheating and premature equipment failure.

Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in Hong Kong burn through twenty-nine percent (29%) of all the electricity generated in Hong Kong[1] , and account for the largest proportion of energy consumption[1], and therefore cost in the commercial buildings.  Hong Kong’s soon to be released Building Energy Code focuses attention on the design of new buildings and while significant savings can be made when constructing a new building using integrated design and installation of efficient equipment, that does not address the biggest sector, the opportunities within the existing building stock. Here are some tips to help you lower your energy costs:

1. Adjust the thermostats to suit the location and season
2. Operate systems only when and where needed
3. Eliminate re-heat if this is practised
4. Allow relative humidity to vary naturally
5. Minimise the amount of make-up and exhaust air (but ensure minimum required air changes)
6. Minimise the amount of air delivered to a conditioned space
7. Recover energy where feasible
8. Maintain and regularly tune equipment
9. Use passive solar design techniques to heat and cool air-conditioned space
10. Ensure hot and cold air ducts are well insulated and do not leak
11. Inspect automatic controls for proper operation
12. Inspect heating elements, controls, and fans
13. Consider the use of radiant heaters to ‘spot heat’ work areas in large factories and warehouses
14. Reduce the use of radiant and electric strip heaters and portable heaters
15. Regardless of the system employed the control of warehouse and factory systems is crucial in maximising energy efficiency
16. Ensure thermostats are located to minimise temperature error settings
17. Ensure heat exchanger fins are not damaged or disfigured
18. Ensure air conditioning systems are correctly maintained
19. Minimise air conditioning in unoccupied operations
20. Clean the duct work
21. Consider using demand limiting to minimise energy delivery costs
22. Consider peak load shifting
23. Seal openings in the building envelope
24. Isolate large motors from the air conditioning stream
25. Recalibrate Fan-Coil Unit Control Valves
26. Clean open cooling tower systems
27. Run motors at minimum speed to met actual load
28. Don’t run dehumidifier and air conditioning simultaneously
29. Check sensor positions, return air ducts, etc. for local influence
30. Conduct annual audit log kw/TR

[1] 2008 Hong Kong End Use Energy Data