Millions in energy savings outlined at industrial efficiency conference

CONCORD, NH (December 9, 2002)—More than 100 representatives of business, industry, and government found out here yesterday that energy efficiency is not just green decoration on the corporate image any more.

“Making use of energy-efficiency technologies can have a significant effect on profitability,” noted Bob Sheppard, associate director at Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP). “By implementing $25 million in energy-saving measures, Verizon saved $60 million over two years.”

Sheppard, who directs the business programs at CA-CP, was part of a morning panel addressing participants at the day-long Energy Efficiency, Technology, and Management conference, organized by the New Hampshire Industrial Efficiency Partnership. The partnership is coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services and the WasteCap Resource Conservation Network of the N. H. Business and Industry Association, and the U. S. Department of Energy.

Clean Air - Cool Planet is the Northeast’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding and promoting innovative solutions to global warming.

The engineers, facility managers, and technicians attending heard a variety of speakers on topics from using automated building controls and fuel cells to shopping for an energy supplier, steps that can reduce the amount of climate-changing emissions and increase efficiency.

Sheppard shared the dais at the morning panel with Scott Hutchins of the U. S. Department of Energy; Mark Toussaint of the WasteCap Resource Conservation Network and the New Hampshire Industries of the Future program; Jack Ruderman, deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services (ECS); Alex Lee of the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC); and Nick DeDominicus, vice president of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.

Hutchins and Toussaint reviewed the ways the businesses and industries in New Hampshire can take advantage of a host of government-sponsored energy-efficiency and technology-enhancement programs. Lee and DeDominicus highlighted the energy-efficiency measures available to commercial and industrial electric customers through the nhsaves program—details of which are available at www.nhsaves.com—run by New Hampshires four electric distribution companies and overseen by the PUC.

Ruderman detailed some of the findings and recommendations of the New Hampshire Energy Plan, which will be distributed this month by ECS. Among other findings, Ruderman said the transportation sector will see the greatest growth in energy use over the next 20 years—and most of that will come from private vehicles. The plan also calls for a number of efficiency steps from the State of New Hampshire and the private sector.

In his presentation on steps already being taken by businesses and industries in the state, Sheppard pointed to efforts like those of Shaw’s Supermarkets, where a combination of energy audits and technology has saved more than $2 million.
“In a business with the narrow profit margins grocers live with, savings like that are comparable to selling more than $150 million in cereal, celery, and salmon,” Sheppard said.

Verizon began several years ago an intensive program featuring energy auditing and monitoring, development of combined heat and power solutions at facilities, and changes in internal processes to reduce energy use, as well as external supply and purchasing decisions designed to reduce costs and use.

Shaw’s embarked on a program of audits and monitoring that reduced their refrigeration system use by as much as 15 percent and cut air handling by 20 tons, which significantly reduced costs. Use of new energy efficient lighting in their stores produced cost reductions up to 40 percent.

Participants at the conference in Concord heard presentations on hardware techniques like using Energy Star® transformers or how power factor conversion saves money, as well as how to discussions on winning approval for energy improvements and financing energy savings without new capital costs.

About Clean Air-Cool Planet
Clean Air- Cool Planet inspires coordinated action among citizens, businesses, government, and community leaders throughout the Northeast to achieve reductions in greenhouse gases. CA-CP has forged effective partnerships with major businesses and corporations in the region, including Shaw’s Supermarkets, The Timberland Company, and Verizon. Visit www.cleanair-coolplanet.org.

Contact: Clean Air-Cool Planet
Bill Burtis, Communications Manager, (603) 422-6464 ext. 105
bburtis@cleanair-coolplanet.org