Better Plants to Present at Industrial Energy Technology Conference

In June, the Energy Department’s Better Plants program will participate in the Industrial Energy Technology Conference (IETC), a national conference that convenes technical experts, program staff, and energy managers from manufacturing companies to share best practices on industrial energy technologies, energy management strategies, and programs.

Now in its 40^th year, IETC features presentations on topics such as smart manufacturing, corporate energy management, energy opportunity analysis, using case studies of successful, and real-world industrial efficiency projects from leading U.S. manufacturers. The conference plenary and luncheons feature nationally known speakers and winners of the IETC Energy Awards. This year, Better Plants partners, TE Connectivity and Sharon Nolen of Eastman Company, will be among those receiving awards.

This year’s attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the Energy Department’s Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) Director, Dr. Rob Ivester, on his vision for AMO’s practice areas going forward, including research, consortiums, and technical partnerships.

According to Dr. Ivester, “The IETC is a wonderful occasion for manufacturers to come together and share best practices and strategies on energy productivity. AMO’s participation in this event advances AMO’s mission to increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, particularly by educating the U.S. industrial workforce on energy efficiency. In addition, this conference provides an opportunity to recognize partners with strong accomplishments and convene groups of partners for AMO-related activities.”  

The 2018 pre-conference Energy Manager’s workshop, to be held on June 12^th, attracts some of the best industrial energy managers in the country who offer unparalleled expertise in industrial energy efficiency. Attendees will be able to see presentations on energy analysis of industrial processes, the role of partnerships in industrial energy efficiency, energy assessments and energy treasure hunts, as well as technologies and policies that can facilitate an energy efficient economy.

In the main sessions, attendees will:

• Hear from experts in energy management, combined heat and power (CHP), and the water/energy nexus among other topics;
• Watch a demo of the 50001 Ready Navigator, the online platform for the 50001 Ready Program. Since the Navigator’s launch in May 2017, more than 250 projects and 600 accounts have been created and six energy utilities are partnering with DOE to offer the 50001 Ready Program to large customers;
• Learn about opportunities to advance in cogeneration technologies; and
• Learn about the new Plant Water Profiler tool that can help industrial plant personnel identify water efficiency opportunities and track progress toward water efficiency goals.

In addition to partners and staff presenting in conference sessions, Better Plants will have a booth at the expo on Wednesday, June 13^th, and Thursday, June 14^th, where attendees can talk with Better Plants representatives and learn about the innovative technologies being developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, as well as new program resources available to the manufacturing sector.

The 2018 IETC coincides with the tricentennial of the City of New Orleans. The IETC has been held in New Orleans since 2005. This year, as IETC celebrates its 40^th anniversary, New Orleans will celebrate its 300^th by opening its doors to the world to share the city’s rich history and culture.