Power plant efficiency challenge

The University of Texas at Austin has increased its total annual energy production efficiency by almost 30% over the last 13 years. 150 million in energy efficiency improvements were paid for by reduced fuel consumption. Juan Ontiveros, director of Utilities and Energy Management explains how it was done using existing technologies and challenges other power plants to do the same.

[@energywatch08]

Dimitri has a "technical" point except we need to remember that the campus is now >30% more efficient in usage mostly from generating power onsite ridding itself of the transmission losses that the centralized power plants suffer from. That does not even account for the added burden costs such as line upkeep, right-of-way clearing, etc. Any facility would be happy for 30% reduction in energy costs. One questionable aspect of the system, chillers are very expensive to operate. Cost analysis?

[@MrBabelation]

I've been studying this a lot lately. It's simply entrenched industrial culture, I think. Variable-frequency drives save LOTS of energy, yet the will to employ them is simply not there. I saw an estimate that 65% of energy used in all industry in the US is for drive motors, and 20% of that is wasted by throttling output through valves and dampers. So, lots more could be done.

[@bobbycone2]

Good for you guys! Proud to be in Texas!

[@UCjlkZKk9zbehzM4rwfKzVQA]

#HookEmGreen!