WHAT IS ENERGY OPTIMA?
ENERGY OPTIMA is a NO COST or LOW-COST Integrated and Systematic Energy-Efficiency Management methodology designed
By: Engr. LOPE COLUMNA
CHIEF ENERGY AND POWER CONSULTANT
COLUMNA ENERGY CONSULTING
CHIEF ENERGY AND POWER CONSULTANT
COLUMNA ENERGY CONSULTING
Plant Managers, Property Managers, Facility Managers and other key leaders of organizations are now faced with great pressure to reduce their operating costs just to stay in business. The risks of not doing so are more serious to the survival of their plants and the properties they manage or own.
One major component of the business process that is very often not fully understood, and is therefore bypassed as important solution to crises today is that of the MAINTENANCE function, which is never fully investigated. ENERGY OPTIMA will help these executives to achieve the needed cost-cutting, not only through the maintenance function, but also in their operations management.
ENERGY OPTIMA efficiently manages both the human factor (the "software") and the technology factor (the hardware) to achieve the minimum energy consumption possible for maximum production and environmental preservation. Thus, ENERGY OPTIMA is a new approach to energy-efficiency management, which is done step-by-step considering all connected energy systems.
ENERGY OPTIMA Efficiency Measures can reduce energy consumption -- and thus, utility bills -- by 30% or more. One of the best features of ENERGY OPTIMA is that it can be implemented through no-cost or low-cost projects. Instead, this will even produce profit to the recipient company, and enhance the indoor environment of their buildings.
ENERGY OPTIMA includes energy audit, efficiency training, technical services, energy-efficient engineering design, supply and installation/retrofitting of efficiency equipment, and documentation/write-up of energy-efficient procedures and methods. ENERGY OPTIMA can be applied both to the existing buildings and facilities and to efficient design and construction of new buildings and plants.
A BACKGROUND OF ENERGY OPTIMA
How did ENERGY OPTIMA come into existence? The ENERGY OPTIMA approach to productive total energy management was conceptualized and developed by Engineer Lope Columna, as a result of his more than 3 decades of field experience, research, and technical energy seminars he conducted. These energy training-seminars were conducted both in-house and by public offerings, which were attended by many participants from the top and world-class corporations in the Philippines. Participant corporations are from such diversified industries in Manufacturing, Petroleum Oil Refining, Copper Smelting and Refining, Mining, Power Generation and Utilization, Transportation and Vehicle Fleet, Materials Handling, Construction, Buildings and Facilities Management, Environmental Pollution Controls, etc.
In the conduct of these many technical training-seminars, which also served as open consultation-forums, the problems and weaknesses that plagued industries were unearthed and discussed. Before or after the seminars, Engineer Columna usually visit and have a tour of the participants' plants and sites.
Those many technical training that Engr. Columna conducted include the efficient design, efficient operations, and proactive maintenance of the major energy components of the industrial and commercial energy systems, such as, HVAC and Refrigeration Systems, Pumps, Valves and Piping Systems, Plumbing Systems, AC Motors, Compressed-Air Systems, Steam Boilers and Steam Systems, Power Gensets, Diesel Engines, Substation/Power Transformers, Bearings and Lubrication Best Practices and Management, Instrumentation and Controls, etc.
In the year 1993, Engr Columna, through his first firm VISIONEERING-Energy Systems, was chosen to be one of the pioneer tenants of the University of the Philippines Technology Business Incubator Project, at Diliman, Quezon City. The TechnoPark project is under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). As a technology-based and research-oriented firm, VISIONEERING was accepted to be under the TechnoPark project because of its ENERGY OPTIMA project and computer software applications in industrial engineering, particularly in the field of efficient operation and maintenance of energy systems. For several years, the ISSI-Virata Hall of U.P. Diliman became the Research and Training Center of Engr. Columna's ENERGY OPTIMA.
Before becoming a licensed engineer, Mr. Columna worked as an industrial Mechanic and Technician in many manufacturing plants. Thus, Engineer Columna was exposed to and given the unique opportunity to have personal knowledge and firsthand experience of the problems plaguing commerce and industries, resulting in the huge wastes of materials and energy that are released to the environment, causing environmental pollution and the Climate Change disastrous effects.
All of the above experience, training-seminars, and research, were incorporated in the development and implementation of this unique ENERGY OPTIMA Energy Management methodology.
RATIONALE
"If controlling global warming is a priority, then industries—from banking to cement manufacturing—will have to become efficient energy users, which will require a transformation of their basic management and operations."
"As economic conditions continue to deteriorate, companies must find opportunities not only to preserve and uncover profits, but to do so without major capital expenditures. To accomplish this, they must go back to the basics of running efficient plants."
It's simple. When your plant or building is wasting energy, you are losing money. And you are also contributing to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, worsening the Energy-Climate crises. Lost energy -- for whatever reason -- is lost profit, and a gain for Global Warming. And because of these, you can even lose your business. Now comes ENERGY OPTIMA for the rescue.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: The MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE SOURCE OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE ENERGY DEMAND!
Most companies, probably yours, are now in cost-cutting business. The obvious reasons for this are to cut operating costs and increase profits, or just make your business survive. One of the best, if not the best approach to successful cost-cutting is for the corporate top management to have a serious commitment and policy of energy conservation and efficiency improvement in their offices, vehicle fleet, factories, and buildings. Instead of laying off workers for cost-cutting, management can "layoff" energy wastage and utilize a higher energy efficiency. The efficiency of every system and component can be improved. This is a fact . And it is best for every business to have this kind of thinking.
The need to conserve energy is of great importance nowadays in view of the rising energy costs, declining energy supply, and worse, the destructive effects of Global Warming. Waste energy in the form of heat, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, smoke, etc. destroy our environment due to the phenomenon of Global Warming. Other negative side effects of improper and excessive energy use are the release of acids and toxic chemicals that again damage our environment. Thus, we continually damage our lands, water, air, and the atmosphere from which we depend our very existence. If we don't take corrective actions now, our inefficiencies and little concern for the environment will ultimately destroy us also.
Another thing is that the Design, Operation, and Maintenance decisions made several years ago, now need reevaluation and change. Your business profitability, if not its very survival, is now threatened by the escalating energy and operating costs. Gone are the years of cheap energy. Unfortunately, old buildings, industrial machinery and processes, which are designed for cheap energy, are still being used, most probably in your facility. Even new plants and machinery can be a source of waste energy, if not given sound engineering care and attention. Fortunately, there are many techniques to save energy.
ENERGY OPTIMA: The TIME HAS COME TO FACE THE ENERGY-CLIMATE CHALLENGE
The burning of fossil fuels is the main CO2 contributor to the atmosphere. Fortunately, a range of options exists to attempt to mitigate the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. First and foremost is simply using energy wisely -- called Energy Efficiency. The most benefit with the least cost would come from energy efficiency. We must address Energy-Climate crises in both the short-term and long-term. We have to reduce and even reverse the increase in global emissions. The best way to do this is to involve as many sectors as possible.
For example, we must target and call for more "efficient buildings." For new buildings, this runs the gamut from proper insulation; good windows; energy-efficient heating, cooling and ventilation; efficient appliances and plug loads that have much-reduced standby losses. About 30 percent of the projected [greenhouse gas] emissions in the building sector can be avoided with net economic benefit.
Commerce and industry, even the National Government will find ENERGY OPTIMA very helpful in planning and executing their in-house energy management programs directed at lowering their operating costs. Such measures are vital for the Philippines to cope with the current energy and economic crises.
NEEDED: TOTAL AND INTEGRATED SYSTEMS ENERGY-SAVING APPROACH
It would be a big mistake to approach energy saving from a compartmentalized approach. Successful energy savings must be done with the relevant knowledge of the many factors and engineering disciplines that are involved in the interconnections of the energy systems in buildings, factories, power plants, and their associated facilities and auxiliaries. Unless these factors are known and used to reduce the energy use of the whole systems, it is possible to reduce energy in one place, only to find that it has increased somewhere else. Without the "whole picture" or integrated systems approach, changes made may result in achievement far short of the potential, or they may actually do more harm than good.
There is danger of dealing only with a lighting expert, or only with an air-conditioning expert, or only with a specialist for an isolated manufacturing process. Modification of one part of the system generally affects other parts of the system, or other systems. The main idea here is to keep an overall perspective and NOT to focus only on one piece of equipment, or one aspect of the building. To best apply these methods, one must first understand the function of each piece of equipment, how energy is used, and the effect of climate and other factors. With the systems approach, improvements are integrated with the whole systems.
NEEDED: A DEDICATED AND MOTIVATED GROUP OF EFFICIENCY EXPERTS
For Energy Efficiency to be successful, there must be a continuous, thoughtful planning and implementation of energy efficiency strategies in various industries and companies.
To have the most successful productive energy-saving program, there must be a dedicated group of experts to continuously analyze, monitor, and seek for efficiency opportunities. This expert efficiency group must have analytical minds with the latest technical know-how, as well as, the modern testing instruments and devices to perform tests and analysis.
So, to make a more realistic and profitable energy-efficiency improvements, the following are required: motivated personnel, relevant professional knowledge and skills, complete set of necessary measuring/testing instruments, abundant funds, etc. The most important of all the requirements is the willingness and commitment of the people concerned to achieve the maximum possible by making effective use of whatever facilities and resources are available.
However, the problem with this is that there are very few companies and experts in the country that are fully equipped with those requirements. This is a fact that forced most companies to make desperate efforts to conducts their efficiency programs under inadequate and unsatisfactory circumstances. In this connection, ENERGY OPTIMA was invented by COLUMNA to provide such very important and profitable energy services to the government, commerce, and industry. ENERGY OPTIMA will provide a WHOLE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION approach in handling your energy conservation and efficiency improvement programs.
EFFICIENCY AS A PROFIT CENTER, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING
ENERGY CONSERVATION and EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS cost money. But the lack of Efficiency Programs also costs money. The only difference is that money spent on energy efficiency improvements can be recovered in a very short time, plus the bonus of an additional large amount of money (net) that can be considered profit.
Even then, there are operational changes that can be made at no cost at all. The potential for cost reduction for the owner is so large and so quickly accomplished that in many cases, improvement should receive high priority. And because efficiency programs prevent or reduce environmental pollution, your company can projects good image and social concern for the community and neighborhood. Efficiency should be one of corporate social responsibility. Funding and budget allocation for efficiency is therefore, a wise and profitable corporate investment.
The ENERGY OPTIMA -- a unique no-cost approach to energy efficiency management can result to millions of pesos in energy savings, as well as, huge reduction in greenhouse gas and particulate emissions, as reported by client companies who applied this ENERGY OPTIMA approach.
LACK OF EFFICIENCY PROGRAM COSTS LARGE SUMS OF MONEY AND ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
On the other hand, lack of efficiency program will cost large sums of money spent on the high bills on maintenance, manpower, materials (spare parts, chemicals, etc.), and energy bills (fuel oil, water, electricity). Lack of efficiency program can also result in a huge loss of profits through loss of productivity, poor product quality, accidents, etc. And these huge losses cannot be recovered, literally going with the wind. Worse, you also help pollute the environment, and increase Global Warming.
ENERGY OPTIMA TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS AND COMBAT THE ENERGY-CLIMATE CHALLENGE!
As an effective solution to face the ENERGY-CLIMATE Challenge, as well as, to help improve the profitability of businesses and industries, COLUMNA MESSIANIC is now offering its expertise via the ENERGY OPTIMA, to assist them in their energy management. With the ENERGY OPTIMA methodology, the energy management of existing plants and building systems can be managed by COLUMNA ENERGY.
ENERGY OPTIMA will conduct energy audits, maintenance audits, engineering services and studies to evaluate the present energy efficiency of the clients`energy site, and will provide specific recommendations for improvement. ENERGY OPTIMA consultancy services are available to industrial, commercial and institutional establishment to identify and implements their energy saving programs. The latest energy technologies with innovations suited to the client's needs will be utilized by COLUMNA ENERGY in implementing this innovative Energy Management program.
As the Energy Efficiency Consultant, COLUMNA ENERGY will be engaged in:
- Energy Systems Survey and Analysis.
- Planning and implementing energy conserving measures.
- Calibration/testing of Instrumentation and controls.
- Identifying/Developing new energy conservation technologies.
- Supply and installation of energy conservation equipment, products and materials, instrumentation and controls, and measuring devices.
- Documentation and write-up of procedures for operations, maintenance, production, and energy-saving techniques.
- Retrofit and redesign of building and plant energy systems.
Member companies can select all of the energy systems applicable in their facilities, or they can just select one or two energy systems according to their priority. If you select just one or two energy systems, COLUMNA ENERGY efficiency approach will still be on the macro level or overall energy point of view. Thus, you are assured that savings on one systems will not increase energy use in another system.
PLANT ENERGY SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS COVERED
Engr. LOPE COLUMNA
Mobile Phone: 0926-876-8236
Email: Lope.columna@yahoo.com
- Air-Conditioning and HVAC Systems
- Refrigeration Systems (Vapor-Compression System)
- Lithium Bromide Absorption Refrigeration System
- Steam-Jet Refrigeration System
- Generator Sets (Power Plants)
- Electrical Wirings and Protection Systems
- Substation/Transformers, Switchgears
- Three-Phase AC motors and Motor controls
- Pumps, Valves, and Piping Systems
- Water and Plumbing Systems
- Lubricants and Lubrication Systems
- Boiler and Steam Systems
- Other Heating and Combustion Systems
- Transport Vehicles (Cars, Trucks, Forklifts, Buses, etc.)
- Compressed-air Systems/Fans/Blowers
- Manufacturing Process and Equipment
- Lighting and Illumination Systems
- Insulation Systems
- Wastewater Treatment Plants
- Waste Management and Reduction
- Pollution Control Equipment and Systems
- Production Machinery and Devices
- Other Machinery and Energy Systems
- SOLAR and WIND Energy Sources
- LED LIGHTING AND ILLUMINATION
- Other RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
Engr. LOPE COLUMNA
Mobile Phone: 0926-876-8236
Email: Lope.columna@yahoo.com
Very good article, thanks for sharing this information with us. Energy Saving Solutions
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