Assessing O&M Practices at Federal Facilities—What Do The ESET Data Tell Us?

Abstract

In late 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy
Management Program (FEMP) Energy Saving Expert Teams (ESET) con-
ducted assessments at 28 federal sites. These assessments were directed
by President Bush in a memorandum to federal agencies in response
to projected natural gas shortages resulting from Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. The primary focus of the ESET assessments was to identify
low-cost and no-cost (operations and maintenance-oriented) energy ef-
fi ciency measures that the sites could quickly and easily adopt to relieve
the expected supply shortfall, while also realizing significant energy
and cost savings. The assessments successfully identified large potential
natural gas savings opportunities available at low-cost/no-cost through
energy efficiency measures such as boiler tune-ups, repair of steam
and condensate leaks, repair of missing and/or damaged insulation,
adjusting temperature and setback setpoints, and modifying equipment
operating schedules. Because these savings opportunities were largely
anticipated, the issue now becomes one of helping facility managers
more easily identify and address these opportunities as they arise.