Energy: Efficiency, Conservation, Renewable Energy

Energy solutions, both in industry and everyday living, have always been of great importance to us at Engineered Equipment Integration. Here we present reports on the issue, prepared by EEI staff and others. 

  • Engineering and the Incentivization of Research and Development in Education and Corporate Environs – Florida Society Journal – Jan. 2020
  • Obfuscation? Should this be the title of your Energy Bill?- Florida Engineering Society Journal – Jan. 2019
    Energy bills, for “users”, can be intimidating and are often poorly understood. Yet the nature of energy cost and use create surcharge and tariffs which can account for 40 to 50%  of the bill for many users. This paper offers insight into such surcharge or tariff and how to substantially reduce them.
  • How do I Assess My System’s Energy Efficiency
    A summary of the value and methods to implementing an energy efficiency program Presented at the “Florida Water Resources Conference” April 2016
  • Optimizing Operational and Performance Efficiency
    Summarizes the secondary value of efficiency improvements, published in Journal of Florida Engineering Society, March 2018
  • Energy Efficiency Paper – Fort Myers, FL (Sept. 13, 2012)
    Our Don Voigt presents an Energy Efficiency paper at the Fifth Annual Southwest Florida Water and Wastewater Exposition – Sept 13, 2012, Fort Myers, Florida Convention Center. PDF of Power Point presentation.
  • Pump Analysis – Audit – for Energy Consumption – Recommended Tools
    Pumps (and blowers) are a major contributor in most industrial/municipal energy consumption loads. This single sheet summary might offer reminders of the tools which have been most useful in providing insight into ways to refine the performance of these key elements in your facility. For further reading (to better understand the value of the suggested measurements), we suggest a review of how “rpm under load” can be a valuable tool and “watts vs amps” for true load profiles in 3 phase motors.
  • Implementing Capital Projects Through Energy Savings
    Our Don Voigt provided a technical presentation to Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) annual Administrative workshop titled: “Implementing Capital Projects Through Energy Savings”. The presentation included “basic” of energy monitoring and offered Web based tools which are available to anyone wishing to make a financial decision on Efficiency improvements.
  • Administrative Workshop for Wastewater Management – Marquette, MI
    Amongst the regulatory and funding agencies for our nation (EPA, DOE, WisCap, and similar), there is a consensus that the need for a basic understanding of energy audits is escalating. Recent EPA Webinars suggest that a Type II energy audit should be conducted for all community wastewater and water treatment facilities. Our chief engineer – Don Voigt, P.E., CEM – provided a summary of the need and the “mechanics” of energy audits for a group of 47 water and wastewater managers attending the UP Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Winter Managers Conference in Marquette MI on December 7, 2011. PDF of Power Point presentation with 60 plus slides.
  • Energy Audits – A First Step in Utility Cost Reduction
    If you intend to improve upon any endeavor, establish a starting point or benchmark at the beginning. Particularly in the area of energy consumption, an energy audit is the best first step. In this report presented in the Florida Engineering Society’s Journal on Energy, Don Voigt reviews the audit procedures and offers insight into how to benefit from a facility audit.
  • Technology and Equipment for Measuring Power Usage – UW Madison, WI November 2010
    One of our principals was asked to be a guest instructor for several recent seminars with a similar theme – Managing Energy in Water and Wastewater Utilities. The following PDF file of the PowerPoint presentation is excerpted from a November 18-19, 2010 seminar sponsored by the University of Wisconsin – Madison College of Engineering, Department of Engineering Professional Development. As the title suggests, the presentation offers insight into energy consumption benchmarking through field auditing of key systems and equipment within the owner’s facilities.
  • WRc Focus on Energy Benchmarking Report
    Midwest USA energy consumption for water and wastewater plants benchmarked and compared to world standards for similar facilities. Demonstrates the importance of engineering for energy efficiency in public utilities.
  • Wastewater Energy Efficiency is Attainable – IFAT Energy Presentation, Munich, May 2008
    Summarizing the first 5 years of an energy conservation program (Wisconsin Focus on Energy) in Water and Wastewater systems in Wisconsin, USA (large file).
  • The Effectiveness of Feedback on Energy Consumption
    A Review for DEFRA of the Literature on Metering, Billing and Direct Displays by Sarah Darby, April 2006. From the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford.
  • German Perspectives on Energy
    A summary (in German) of energy generation and consumption patterns, especially related to water and wastewater utilities.
  • Intellectual Capital
    The value of “Systems Thinking” in Engineered Project Designs and Development