Generating the buzz on energy efficient motors

Tuesday, December 5, 2000

Newton-With fuel prices rising and a cold winter predicted, the timing couldn't be better for the motor industry to increase awareness of the benefits of energy efficient motors.

Spearheading the campaign efforts is the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), a non-profit firm that promotes the development and use of energy-efficient products and services and whose members and partners include utilities, environmental groups, and motor manufacturers and distributors. The U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency also provide major support and funding.

"The goal of this initiative is to encourage better motor management practices," Jerry Peerbolte, VP of marketing at Baldor, told Design News during a recent visit. "Electric motors consume nearly a quarter of the electricity sold in the U.S. But up to 18% of that energy could be saved simply through companies making better choices in motor technology. We need to help educate design engineers on that decision-making process."

The 1997 Energy Policy Act (EPAct), which mandates energy efficiency standards for general purpose, three-phase ac industrial motors from 1 to 200 hp, already has made an impact on the market. Peerbolte, for example, reports that Baldor's line of Super-E energy efficient motors has been growing at double the rate of its motor business overall. Hot markets include the pulp and paper and chemical industries.

Despite their quick payback, however, widespread acceptance of energy efficient motors has been limited by the higher upfront purchase price. That's because the most effective strategy for improving the efficiency of a motor is to use better materials and more of them.

But as Peerbolte points out, higher volumes will lead to economies of scale and more favorable pricing-and that's why it is so important that the industry get the word out on the advantages of energy efficient motors. "They're not only more efficient, they cost less to operate, run cooler and quieter, and are dynamically balanced to half the vibration limits set by NEMA," says Peerbolte.

For more information about CEE and its initiatives, go to www.ceeformt.org. For more details on Baldor's Super -E line of energy efficient motors, go to www.baldor.com.