2010 legislation mandates energy efficient motors

The stated purpose of the act (from Wikipedia) is “to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.”

For makers of packaging machinery, and the end users who buy their equipment, EISA addresses raising the efficiency of industrial electric motors and expands the range of motors that are in question.

According to Baldor’s Solutions Magazine, electric motors account for 25% of total U.S. energy use, and motorized equipment accounts for 64% of the electricity U.S. manufacturing consumes.

So a close look at efficiency of motors could save dollars and help packaging OEMs meet their “green” goals. While the new Act does not go into law until late 2010, energy savings can be realized now.

The purchase price of any motor accounts for 2% of the investment. Energy use accounts for the remaining 97%. Baldor’s website features an energy savings tool, (BE$T) to help you calculate potential savings by specifying efficient motors.

Energy efficiency was on the agenda at Pack Expo Las Vegas last week as well, with a spokesperson from Bosch Rexroth reporting similar statistics from Europe.