New: IACs Expand Commercial Building Pilot

Small- and medium-sized manufacturers may be eligible to receive a no-cost assessment provided by DOE Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs). Teams located at 37 universities around the country conduct the energy assessments to identify opportunities to improve productivity and competitiveness, reduce waste, and save energy. IACs typically identify more than $130,000 in potential annual savings opportunities for every manufacturer assessed, nearly $50,000 of which is implemented during the first year following the assessment. Over 20,000 IAC assessments have been conducted.

Manufacturers can contact the closest IAC location about receiving an IAC assessment if they meet these criteria:

• Within Standard Industrial Codes (SIC) 20-39
• Gross annual sales below $250 million
• Fewer than 500 employees at the plant site
• Annual energy bills more than $100,000 and less than $3.5 million
• No professional in-house staff to perform the assessment
• Because they are one-day assessments, IACs typically limit their site visits to locations that can be reached via a two-hour drive (~150 miles) of a participating university (see locations); however, exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis. 

IACs train the next-generation of energy savvy engineers, more than 60 percent of which pursue energy-related careers upon graduation. IAC assessments are in-depth evaluations of a facility conducted by engineering faculty with upper class and graduate students from a participating university. After a remote survey of the plant, the team conducts a one or two-day site visit to take engineering measurements. The team performs a detailed process analysis to generate specific recommendations with estimates of costs, performance, and payback times. Within 60 days, the plant receives a confidential report detailing the analysis, findings, and recommendations. In six to nine months, the IAC team calls the plant manager to verify what recommendations have been implemented. Universities periodically apply to host an IAC and receive DOE funding to provide assessments. The IAC program has offered assessments since 1976.

IAC DATABASE

Find energy-saving ideas for your company by searching recommendations from completed plant assessments. The IAC Database is a collection of data from over 19,000 publicly available IAC assessments along with recommended energy-saving projects. Search by type of facility assessed (size, industry, energy usage, products, location), resulting recommendations (description, energy savings, implementation costs, and payback), and performing IAC.  The database can be downloaded.

FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND ALUMNI

Each year, about 500 engineering students at IACs receive hands-on assessment training at operating industrial facilities and gain substantiative experience performing evaluations of industrial processes and energy systems. Alumni report the training sets them apart in the job market.

Employers seek out IAC graduates. IAC students graduate with the skills and abilities to conduct energy, waste, and productivity assessments; use instrumentation and diagnostic equipment; work safely in an industrial environment; and communicate successfully through written reports and presentations to clients. These skills--that can only be gained through real-world experience--make graduates highly attractive to employers.