How do government agencies, organizations and companies become a Motor Decisions Matter sponsor?

The Motor Decisions Matter Campaign was formed because few customers were taking the time to evaluate common motor-related decisions, such as repairing, replacing or sizing their motors. For instance, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, only 12 percent consider the lower energy operating costs of new motors. As a result, few customers were demanding premium efficiency motors or specifying quality repairs even though these choices could save time, energy and money for their plants and facilities. Recent increases in energy prices helped to mobilize a coalition of motor manufacturers, motor service centers, electric utilities, and government agencies to establish the Motor Decisions Matter campaign. Through the campaign the sponsors intend to raise customer awareness, provide a common message and draw from a common set of resources when discussing motor efficiency opportunities with customers.

Just ask them. Any knowledgeable motor service professional should be able to help you develop a viable motor plan based upon local prices for electricity, repair services, and new motors. Several motor professionals are participating in the campaign and have access to Motors Decisions Matter materials through their membership in NEMA, EASA, and CEE. The Motor Decisions Matter Web site (www.motorsmatter.org) will also provide valuable links, tools and resources to assist motor professionals in developing sound motor plans.

Your local repair firm/distributor can assist you in developing a customized motor plan that makes sense to your company. A motor management plan should contain a written set of criteria for repair/replace decisions, stipulate decisions in advance on specific critical applications or outline a repair/replace decision for each motor in the inventory and list all spares that can be used for different applications.

The incremental price difference between standard and premium efficiency motors varies by motor size, type and availability. In some cases, premium motors can be 20 to 30 percent more expensive, but the additional costs of buying premium efficiency motors need not be large. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s MotorMaster+® database indicates that some premium efficiency motors are now available for the same price or less than the price of typical standard efficiency motors. Since most motors are obtained at a substantial discount from retail (which is the cost listed in MotorMaster+®), the cost increment can be even less. In many cases, the incremental cost of a premium efficiency motor is insignificant compared to the amount of energy costs the motor will save in the long run.

In general, premium efficiency motors are as those motors that exceeded the minimum standards required by the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 by a significant margin. NEMA has released a premium efficiency motor specification and brand, called NEMA Premium™, which has been endorsed by the motor industry, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and many CEE-member utilities that administer motor efficiency programs across the
country. Premium efficiency motors are typically constructed with superior materials and have more copper, tighter tolerances and longer warranties. The customer not only benefits from energy savings, but may also improve reliability and up time by replacing worn out, potentially unreliable motors.

A variety of tools are available to help you calculate the energy savings of premium efficiency motors and quality repair services. Your local distributor, repair center or utility representative will have the experience and information needed to help you make these calculations. Campaign sponsors plan to offer an energy savings calculator to help customers answer this very question.

The Web site (www.motorsmatter.org) references a variety of resources and information to help you get started. The site currently has information about the campaign and links to sponsors' Web sites. Within the next month, the site will include an online motor management and planning kit. The kit will include:
checklist of steps to get started on developing a motor plan; links to online resources to get more information about motor planning; and campaign information on the importance and opportunity associated with motor management and planning.

Absolutely. Cutting energy costs is beneficial to a company in any economic environment. By having a motor plan complete, you will always be prepared to make sound decisions regarding the repair/replacement of a failed motor rather than making rush decisions that don't take energy and cost efficiency into consideration. The amount of money saved on energy costs by using premium efficiency motors and having a well thought-out motor plan in place will be quite substantial over a period of years. There are important non-energy benefits as well such as reduced equipment downtime, longer motor life, and less noise.

A motor plan should be reviewed at least once a year. At the same time, a spot check of motors and their condition should also be conducted on a regular basis. As the conditions of the motors and technology changes, so should the motor plan.

Any company that has electric motors needs a plan. Efficiency improvements made in any capacity to equipment operated thousands of hours per year makes economic sense, no matter how large or small the operation. Decreased energy costs are a realized benefit to any company as well as important non-energy benefits such as reduced equipment downtime, longer motor life, and less noise.

With the information and tools provided by the Motor Decisions Matter campaign, putting together a basic motor plan can be a simple task. With the help of your local distributor, trade association, repair center or utility representative, developing a sound motor plan becomes even easier. The amount of time invested in developing the plan will be well worth the amount of energy savings a company will experience.