Energy Websites

EIA​​​​​​ – Gas
Natural gas spot prices increase at benchmark Henry Hub. Henry Hub spot prices increased 9¢ over the report week, but remain at relatively low levels, settling at $2.11/MMBtu yesterday. Prices posted in the Midwest declined with milder weather in the second half of the report week.
Energy Star Website
Since the ENERGY STAR program started in 1992, EPA has worked with business, industry, and government leaders to chart a proven path to financial value and greenhouse gas reductions through strategic energy management. So don’t reinvent the wheel. If you’re just starting out, the ENERGY STAR resources below can give you a big head start in the right direction.
EIA – Electricity
The market data provided on this page are republished, with permission, from data collected by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and updated biweekly. Currently, electricity products can be traded at more than two dozen hubs or delivery points in North America, and natural gas products can be traded at over 120 hubs.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy advances building energy performance through the development and promotion of efficient, affordable, and high impact technologies, systems, and practices. Their long-term goal is to reduce energy use by 50%. Next-generation building technologies are needed to advance building systems and components that are cost-competitive in the market.

White Papers

No/Low Cost Energy Saving Opportunities in Compressed Air Systems
Compressed Air Energy Saving Improvements – Reduce air pressure, Repair Leaks, Recover Compressor Waste Heat
Others – Reduce Use of pneumatic tools, Reduce/eliminate inappropriate uses
7 Tips for Saving Energy On Your Water Bill
You have most likely heard the saying “A little bit now goes a long way later.” It makes sense, but how often do we act upon this idea? With the correct end goal in mind, we can more easily apply the initial steps that will better us off down the road. The goal of this article, and what your end goal should be after reading this article, is to save up to 40% on your water bills. How can this be done? Well, let’s take a look at 7 easy tips that will put money back in your pockets, guaranteed.

Restaurant Energy Management by SM Engineering
In a typical restaurant, 80% of energy consumption is used in the kitchen area and space heating. Restaurants in the U.S. are one of the greatest energy using intensities of any type of commercial building. On average, restaurants use 38 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 111 cubic feet of natural gas annually per square foot. Most utilities charge commercial buildings for their natural gas based on the amount of energy delivered.

Lighting in Industrial Buildings
Exacted from Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory “An Energy Star guide for Identifying Energy Savings in Manufacturing Plants”. Written by Ernst Worrell; Tana Angelini; Eric Masanet
Summarized by Satya Garg P.E, SM Engineering

Water Management for Apartment Buildings
The pressure required at plumbing fixtures from sink, dishwasher, toilet, shower varies from 8 psi – 20 psi. Pressure at the water meter to supply the farthest and highest fixture during peak demand usually 50 psi pressure is enough to handle a 3-story apartment building. You lose 1 lb of pressure for every 2.31-foot rise; so for 30’ rise you lose 13 psi of pressure. You should check the water pressure at the meter. Over 60 psi pressure, you should consider lowering the pressure with pressure reducing valve.

Required Data for ENERGY STAR Benchmarking
Data For ENERGY STAR Benchmarking

Water Saving in Industrial Plants
One often undetected source of water waste is nozzle wear, Some processors elect to change out spray nozzles annually. Annual cost of water savings can be equivalent to 50 – 70%.

Energy Saving Tips for:

Congregational Buildings
Many Congregational Buildings can benefit from low- or no-cost measures to reduce energy consumption.
A highly efficient packaged air-conditioning/heating unit can reduce cooling energy consumption by10%. In HVAC, a zone consists of a number of rooms that have a similar function and experience similar heating and cooling needs. Consider a separate HVAC system for more frequently used zones in the building that have a similar function.
Grocery Stores
Most parking lots are designed with far more lighting than the 1 foot-candle or lower average that the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America’s Lighting Handbook (2000) recommends. Using lower-wattage bulbs can actually increase the safety of your lot – an overlit lot can be dangerous to drivers if their eyes cannot adjust quickly enough in the transition from highly lit to dark areas.
Office Buildings
–Many Hotels and Motels can benefit from low- or no-cost measures to reduce energy consumption.
–Make sure that HVAC settings in lobbies, offices and other such peripheral rooms are at miniminum settings during hours of low use.
–Set laundry hot water temperatures to 120 Fahrenheit. This is a good temperature for all hot water uses outside of the kitchen.
Retail Buildings
Lighting is critical, both in creating an ambiance and in make the merchandise attractive to shoppers.
–Display Lighting– Proper display lighting is critical for driving retail sales and preventing merchandise returns.
–Fluorescent lamps– If your facility uses T12 fluorescent lamps, relamping with modern T8 lamps and electronic ballasts can reduce your lighting energy consumption by 35%.
Restaurants
–Equipment– For equpment that you choose note to turn off entirely, such as the refrigeration system or air conditioner, set controls to minimum levels during operating hours and turn down equipment just before closing each night.
–Lights– In spaces where natural lighting is available, dim lights in propotion to the availability of sunlight. Daylight sensors and controls are available that can perform this function for you automatically.
Hotels
Many Hotels and Motels can benefit from low- or no-cost measures to reduce energy consumption.
Make sure that HVAC settings in lobbies, offices and other such peripheral rooms are at miniminum settings during hours of low use.
Set laundry hot water temperatures to 120 Fahrenheit. This is a good temperature for all hot water uses outside of the kitchen.
Hospitals
Cogeneration systems provide both heat and power. They have more applications and offer more savings potential for hospitals than for any other class of commercial building.
Dairy Farms
Energy-efficient lighting is a simple solution to reducing energy costs, especially when the technique of long-day lighting – in which lights are left on for 18 hours a day to increase milk production – is implemented.

Energy Management Resources

Benchmark Table by Type of Building
2003 CBECS1 National Median Source Energy Use and Performance Comparisons by Building Type.
Energy Units and Calculators
In the United States, Btu, a measure of heat energy, is the most commonly used unit for comparing fuels. Because energy used in different countries comes from different places, Btu content of fuels varies slightly from country to country.
Btu content of each fuel provided below is the average heat content for fuels consumed in the United States in 2014.
Industries in Focus
EPA provides tools and resources to help you save money and reduce your carbon emissions by improving the energy efficiency of building and plants. Identify yourself from one of the groups below for more information. Are you are a local or state government, utility, corporation, or other organization that has been tasked with meeting energy savings or greenhouse gas reduction goals? Get tools and resources to help you deliver efficiency and improvements.
Latest Data on Crude Futures Price and Retail Gasoline Price
Official daily closing prices at 2:30 p.m. from the trading floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) for a specific delivery month for each product listed on this page.
Industrial Technologies Program/US Department of Energy
AMO’s Industrial Technical Assistance supports the deployment of manufacturing technologies and practices, including strategic energy management and combined heat and power, across American industry to increase productivity and reduce water and energy use.
Energy Efficiency as an Investment: The Value of Investing in Energy Efficiency, Navigant Energy
2003 CBECS1 National Median Source Energy Use and Performance Comparisons by Building Type.

Energy Management Basics:

Small and Medium Sized Manufacturers
Why managing energy use is difficult if you are not measuring it? By measuring and tracking, you can evaluate the energy
use of your plant(s) and determine a reasonable energy savings goal. This is the first step of an effective energy
savings program.
Pumping Tip Sheet
Every industrial facility has a piping network that carries water or other fluids. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 16% of a typical facility’s electricity costs are for its pumping systems.
Best Practices Process Heat
Best operating practices and advanced process heating technologies can lead to significant energy savings at your plant. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to optimize performance and save energy.
Best Practices Steam
Many manufacturing facilities can recapture energy by installing more efficient steam equipment and processes and applying energy management practices. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to optimize performance and save energy.
Best Practices Pumps
Dramatic energy and cost savings can be achieved in pump systems by applying best energy management practices and purchasing energy-efficiency equipment. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to save energy in pump systems.
Best Practices Motors
Dramatic energy and cost savings can be achieved in motor systems by applying best energy management practices and purchasing energy-efficiency equipment. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to save energy in motors.
Best Practices for Fans
Dramatic energy and cost savings can be achieved in motor systems by applying best energy management practices and purchasing energy-efficiency equipment. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to save energy in fan systems.
Energy Use Checklist
Taking several simple steps can help manufacturers identify commonly overlooked opportunities for energy savings, and establish an energy management strategy that saves money year after year. Use this checklist to get started and begin saving 10 percent or more.
Activating Power Management on Individual Computers
Applying best energy management practices and purchasing energy-efficient equipment can lead to significant savings in compressed air systems. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to improve performance and save energy.
Power Management for Computers
You can save energy, save money, and help the environment by activating power management features on your computer.
Optimizing Compressed Air Systems
Applying best energy management practices and purchasing energy-efficient equipment can lead to significant savings in compressed air systems. Use the software tools, training, and publications listed below to improve performance and save energy.