Question: At a Kaeser Compressors Pressure & Profit event this spring, you said that no one ever got fired for using too much energy. Given that, how can energy managers “sell” plant-floor personnel and upper management on the value of using compressed air more efficiently and keeping compressed air systems well-maintained?
Joe: I reiterate to energy managers that I know how they feel, because production’s the main thing. That pays the bills. Everybody needs to be in line with that understanding. When somebody has to take production down because an air compressor goes down, you get all kinds of attention.
When I say things like, “Nobody ever got fired for using too much energy,” it’s just to indicate that you need to do (energy management), but you also need to recognize as an energy manager that there are also plant priorities that need to be taken into consideration. When you go through and satisfy all of those and reduce energy at the same time, that’s a win-win for the company.
