Electric motors, taken together, make up the single largest end use of electricity in the United States. In the U.S. manufacturing sector, electric motors used for machine drives such as pumps, conveyors, compressors, fans, mixers, grinders, and other materials handling or processing equipment account for about 54% of electricity consumption. Applying best energy management practices and purchasing energy-efficient equipment can lead to significant savings in motor systems.
Basic Learning Materials
If you are new to motors or are unsure of how efficient your system is, a great place to start is familiarizing yourself with the basics and checking if you have already implemented the most basic energy saving measures.
Where To Start
The Motor System Info Card contains a brief summary of the top energy saving measures you can implement in your plant.
The Improving Motor and Drive System Performance Sourcebook contains a more detailed explanation of motor systems.
Courses and Videos
For a more detailed learning experience, check out the eLearning and video courses available online.
Active Energy Efficiency Using Speed Control
Author: Schneider Electric
A course covering motor control system basics
Efficient Motor Control With Power Drives Systems
Author: Schneider Electric
A course covering power drive systems, motors, gears, and efficiency
IAC 101 Motors
Author: Industrial Assessment Centers
20 minute video covering motor basics
Motors: A Performance Opportunity Roadmap
Author: Schneider Electric
A course covering basic operation of motors and potential savings
Motors: Loads, Losses, and Operating Costs
Author: Schneider Electric
An overview of energy losses and efficiency factors in motors
Tools and Calculators
There are many resources available to help you calculate specific costs and savings for your plant. Some of these tools, calculators, and software are listed below.
MEASUR Motor Drive Tool
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Tool used to compare motor drive and savings options.
MEASUR Motor Inventory
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Tool used to create a comprehensive motor catalog.
MEASUR Motor Performance Tool
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Motor performance graph generator
MEASUR NEMA Energy Efficiency Tool
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Tool used to estimate energy efficiency for a motor.
MEASUR Percent Load Estimation Tool
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Tool to estimate the percent load used by a motor
MEASUR Replace Vs Rewind Tool
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Calculator used to determine if a motor should be replaced or rewound
Motor Notched Belt Calculator
Author: GCCoE
Excel tool used to calculate savings from using notched motor belts
These and other resources can be found on the Resource Library page.