From September 21 to 23, energy leaders came together in Washington, DC for the World Energy Engineering Congress (WEEC), the largest energy conference and technology expo specifically for business, industrial, and institutional energy users in the United States.

AMO’s Better Plants was a silver-level sponsor for this year’s event and offered a number of different engagement opportunities for attendees including a conference track on several technical assistance topics that are important for partners in both the Better Plants and Superior Energy Performance (SEP) programs. With many Better Plants partners and AMO experts in one place, the conference was a valuable exercise in knowledge transfer and an opportunity to discuss the future of the program. Better Plants partners were able to share their success stories, lessons learned, and best practices in energy management with one another and engaged in meaningful discussion about how to maximize the impact of the Better Plants program through increased competitiveness and energy efficiency.

Panels explored topics like the ISO 50001 and Superior Energy Performance (SEP) energy management standards, success stories of using onsite energy generation to save money, water and wastewater treatment efficiency, and data-driven energy efficiency. The panels were led by AMO experts and included industry leaders from Detroit Diesel, Volvo, 3M, Legrand North America, The Dow Chemical Company, Toyota, Ford, Electrolux AB, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Eastman Chemical Company, Lockheed Martin, TE Connectivity, and Johnson Controls. The sessions were an excellent opportunity for Better Plants partners to learn from one another and showcase their innovative solutions to energy management challenges.

The first panel explored the ISO 50001 and Superior Energy Performance (SEP) energy management standards. The panel was chaired by Paul Scheihing, AMO Technology Manager and featured industry experts discussing their own experiences and the value of ISO 50001 and SEP. Industry experts included Carlo Caltagirone, Energy Management Specialist at Detroit Diesel, Bert Hill, Manager of Health, Safety and the Environment at Volvo Group North America, and Steve C. Schultz, Corporate Energy Manager at 3M.

The second panel focused on different success stories of using onsite energy generation to save money. Jim Young, Corporate Energy Manager at Legrand North America, Heidi Holmes, Energy Advanced Control and Optimization Manager at The Dow Chemical Company, Chris Adkins, Engineering Specialist at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Mark Pannell, Environmental Manager at Volvo each described the onsite generation technologies, such as fuel cell installation and regenerative dynamometers. The session was chaired by Jay Wrobel, AMO Technical Assistance Manager.

The third panel featured a new special initiative for the Better Plants program: water and wastewater treatment efficiency. Robert Lung, AMO Industrial Technical Assistance Fellow, led the panel which featured experts from industry and academia. Panelists included Jeff White, Energy Efficiency Manager at Ford Motor Company, Todd A. Williams, Senior Project Engineer at General Motors Company, Gordon Smith, Director for Sustainability and Maintenance at Electrolux AB, and Dr. Prakash Rao, Principal Scientific Engineering Associate at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The final panel, led by Eli Levine, manager of Better Plants focused on smarter data for smarter business and revolved around data-driven energy efficiency. Panelists included Craig Leonberg, Senior Mechanical Engineer at Eastman Chemical Company, Maribeth Malloy, Director of Strategic Engagement at Lockheed Martin Corporation, Carl Schultz, Senior Director of Environment, Health, and Safety at TE Connectivity, and Catherine Potter, Director of Global Environmental Affairs at Johnson Controls.

Between sessions, conference attendees could find Better Plants experts at a booth showcasing innovative technologies including Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) ultrasonic dryer, a high magnetic flux processing display, super hydrophobic materials, and AMO’s Dynamic Manufacturing Energy Sankey Tool. AMO Director Dr. Mark Johnson demonstrated some of these technologies in a Facebook Live broadcast.

During a breakfast hosted by Better Plants during the conference, Dr. Johnson discussed the importance of innovation in manufacturing and the multiplier effect that advanced manufacturing has in employment across the economy. He applauded the new Better Plants program partners, noting that the last year represented the highest growth in any year since the beginning of the program. Dr. Johnson also recognized partners, including General Dynamics, which had reached the program goal within the 10-year commitment period.

At the breakfast, Eli Levine, manager of Better Plants, offered a glimpse into the future of the program. He challenged partners to keep their momentum going and gave a preview of exciting new tools that Better Plants partners would have access to in the coming year, including a diagnostic equipment loan program or “library” from which partners could check out equipment and use it to improve their energy management practices. He also discussed new opportunity spaces in recognition and technology transfer and an upcoming Better Plants “Industry Day” at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Following his remarks, there was an open discussion about what kinds of resources and support Better Plants partners were looking for and many were eager to get their hands on the new diagnostic equipment. 

A major highlight of the week was the release of the 2016 Better Plants Progress Update. The progress update offers an in-depth look at the progress of the program to date, accomplishments of Better Plants partners, and an analysis of the manufacturing sector’s energy management challenges and opportunities. It also featured information on the wealth of resources available to Better Plants partners and can be expected in 2017 and beyond as the program continues to grow. During Secretary Moniz’s keynote luncheon on the final day of WEEC, he praised some of the major accomplishments of Better Plants including:

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  • 181 partnering companies and 2500 facilities across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, representing 11.4% of the total U.S. manufacturing energy footprint.
  • More than $3 billion in cumulative energy cost savings by Better Plants partners
  • 25 new industrial organizations joining the Better Plants program and 7 new Better Plants Challenge Partners
  • More than 34 million metric tons in cumulative avoided CO2 emissions.

As the Better Plants program continues to grow and work with partners to develop a robust portfolio of resources and best practices, it is important to participate in activities like WEEC and the Better Buildings Summit. Better Plants partners are changing the way manufacturers think about energy management, and conferences like WEEC are a tremendous opportunity to share knowledge and grow together.

Presentation slides from the Better Plants’ sessions are available upon request. Email betterplants@ee.doe.gov if you would like a copy.

Learn more about Better Plants and the WEEC in this video.