In 1999, clear energy-efficiency data and life cycle analysis information were not available to customers making the decision to repair, rewind or buy new industrial motors. Rewinding a motor keeps operating costs the same or sometimes raises them, while investing money in a more energy-efficient model reduces operating costs over the motor’s lifetime. Service centers believed that motor rewinds reduced the efficiency of repaired motors, and they chose to not offer the service. In reality, with appropriate procedures a rewound motor retains its original efficiency. The Drive Power initiative was established to educate service centers and motor users so they could make better decisions about replacing or repairing industrial motors and, in turn, maintaining or increasing the region’s motor fleet efficiency.
Market Transformation Approach
Innovation:
From 1999 through 2004, the alliance partnered with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and motor service centers to transform the market for energy-efficient motors and motor repair practices.
Action:
Beginning in 1999, the alliance worked with Green Motors Practices Group and prominent motor service centers in the region to effectively prove that energy-efficient rewinds could produce less than a 1 percent loss in efficiency – which led more service centers to offer the practice. Then, in 2000, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Premium brand established an easily recognizable third-party brand that helps buyers identify energy-efficient motors. With these market barriers removed, the Drive Power initiative implemented a broad motor education program, including seminars, a newsletter, an information toolkit, motor inventory software and a website allowing motor users to make better decisions about replacing or repairing motors.
Outcome:
Helping motor users incorporate life cycle analysis into their decisions resulted in more use of energy-efficient rewinds and increased purchases of NEMA Premium motors. Because of this, by 2011 the alliance achieved 11.7 aMW in energy savings beyond what would have occurred naturally in the market without intervention. This is enough energy to power more than 8,000 U.S. households each year.