Boiler Room Energy Conservation Measures
Food and Beverage Processing Facility · Nova Scotia · Energy Savings Audit
Without dedicated sub-metering, energy conservation opportunities may be difficult to identify. Panevo's walkthrough audit of this dairy processing facility identified six Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) spanning power quality, lighting, and boiler systems without available metering data. Findings included a failed capacitor bank (invisible to the site due to how the electricity provider charges for power), inefficient steam boiler sample cooling and missing controls, high boiler stack heat loss, and inefficient hot water generation design. Savings were initially estimated at over $94K using first principles, utility bill analysis, and manual measurements.
No dedicated metering infrastructure: Without sub-meters in place, savings were quantified through engineering fundamentals and manual field measurements, such as bucket-and-timer water flow readings to validate boiler water ECMs. Panevo claimed savings for only what could be independently proven due to multiple parallel site projects impacting water consumption.
Dynamic baseline modeling: Natural gas savings required Panevo to prepare a custom production & temperature regression model, which revealed the site increased production by ~14% while operating in an ~8% colder year. Raw consumption data alone would have understated performance. The model confirmed the site consumed ~22% less natural gas than expected, unlocking ~$173K in annual avoided gas costs.
A single walkthrough audit identified six measures estimated to save ~$94K per year. After Panevo designed, implemented, and verified the program, actual savings were more than double the original estimate, at ~$202K annually.
Panevo achieved this without relying on dedicated sub-metering. Where instruments were not available, Panevo's engineers used field measurement techniques and production-adjusted regression models to quantify performance.
Savings were claimed only where they could be independently verified, in accordance with IPMVP principles for Measurement & Verification.
