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Energy Conservation and Renewable Resources:
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For more information, contact:
Professor Sudhakar Neti
(610) 758-4117 |
Industrial Assessment
Center
... for Energy Conservation in Industry
Lehigh University is host to one of 26 DOE-funded Industrial Assessment
Centers in the United States. Based in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
and Mechanics and the Energy Research Center, Lehigh's IAC focuses on
providing assistance to industrial facilities within a 150 mile radius
of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. IACs provide no-cost assessments to small
and mid-sized manufacturers. Students do the engineering measurements
in auditing how each facility utilizes energy and resources. Then, with
the guidance of their professors, they identify opportunities to save
energy, reduce waste, and improve productivity.
| A typical assessment is performed in three steps: |
| Step 1 |
The university-based IAC team conducts a survey, followed by a one-
to two-day in-plant audit of energy, waste, and productivity. |
| Step 2 |
Within 60 days, the plant manager receives a confidential report
detailing the team's analysis and money-saving recommendations, along
with estimates of related costs, performance, and payback periods. |
| Step 3 |
In six to nine months, the IAC follows up with a phone call to the
plant manager to see which, if any, recommendations were implemented. |
| Who is eligible for IAC assessments? |
- Small and mid-sized manufacturing plants in Standard Industrial
Classification Codes 20-39
- Located within 150 miles of a host campus
- Meeting the following criteria:
- Gross annual sales below $100 million
- Fewer than 500 employees at the plant site
- Annual utility bills more than $100,000 and less than $2 million
- No in-house professional staff to perform the assessment.
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