Motors

Industrial fans, pumps and air compressors use more than 50 percent of the total motor-related electricity used. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), industrial motor-system energy use could be reduced by 11 to 18 percent if all existing cost-effective technologies and practices for improved efficiency were implemented.

As of October 1997, the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) required all motors sold in the U.S. to meet efficiency standards. In 2001 a new class of premium efficiency motors was designated, setting standards for new motors beyond those of EPACT.

Although high efficiency motors have been available for years, they make up less than 10 percent of all industrial motors in current use. If your motors are not part of this 10 percent they could be using excess electricity—increasing your operating costs. See the links below to help calculate your motor operating costs, develop a policy for motor repair and replacement and develop strategies to reduce energy use by motors at your facility.

Motor Energy Saving Tips According to the U.S. Department of Energy, industry could reduce energy used by motors by 11 to 18 percent if it implemented all existing cost-effective technologies and practices for improved efficiency. This fact sheet will help you calculate your motor operating costs, develop a policy for motor repair and replacement and develop strategies to reduce energy used by motors at your facility.

DOE Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) BestPractices for Motors, Pumps and Fans DOE OIT BestPractices works with industry to identify plant-wide opportunities for energy savings and process efficiency through implementing new technologies and systems improvements. BestPractices provides an assortment of tools and resources to help industrial end users achieve efficiency improvements and related cost savings.

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) on motors can enhance process operations, especially for flow control, and can efficiently cut energy demand for pumps and fans.

Industrial Case Studies
The Challenge: Optimizing Electric Motor Systems at a Corporate Campus Facility 3M saves $823,000 annually on energy, maintenance and reduced steam and chilled water use as a result of an in-house motor system performance optimization project. Using a systematic facility-by-facility approach, the company formed a Motor Challenge team that evaluated approximately 1,000 electric motor systems in 29 buildings at the 3M Center to identify feasible projects.