Energy Efficient Equipment and Design Earn California Plant Over 58,000 Dollars

November, 29, 2011

Solar Atmospheres of California (SCA) was recently awarded a rebate check in the amount of $58,655 for its participation in Southern California Edison’s (SCE) “Savings by Design” program.  The goal of this program is to promote energy savings through non-residential building enhancements and improved equipment efficiencies.  The check was presented to William R. Jones, CEO of Solar Atmospheres, Inc. and Solar California president Derek Dennis at an open house celebration for the new heat treating and brazing facility.

With the increasing concern for electrical power costs and the large quantity of power required to run several high temperature furnaces 24/7, SCA management dictated that their new facility and equipment incorporate the most efficient designs available. Mr. Dennis notes, “Solar enrolled in the Savings By Design program before construction even began so we could include cost and energy-saving building features up front. On the equipment side, we benefited from having our sister company, Solar Manufacturing, custom-design our furnaces which are among  the most energy efficient on the market today. We use much less energy than the industry standard. SCE has calculated the exact amount saved to be 1,222,247 kWh per year.”

Specific design improvements that qualified for the “Savings By Design” program include:

• The installation of skylights and T-5 Lighting throughout the plant.
• More efficient furnace hot zone insulation to reduce heat loss.
• Variable Speed Drive (VSD) on the various vacuum pumps to reduce full power requirement when not required.  
• Conservac system for diffusion pump which activates heater phases only when required.
• VSD on furnace gas cooling systems to minimize motor draw requirement based on each specific cycle.
• VSD on Plant Water Cooling System Pumps and Fans to provide optimum efficiencies only when needed. 
• Plant power monitors to minimize peak demand and average power consumption.

All of these considerations have been well received by SCE and will continue to reduce monthly power costs for the California facility throughout its lifetime.

Pictured above (L to R):  From Southern California Edison: Robert A Carbajal, Technical Specialist, New Construction Services; Dennis Munoz. Manager, Business Customer Division; Michael McPhee, Account Executive; Stephanie Young, Project Manager, Economic Development Services; From Solar Atmospheres: William R. Jones, CEO; Derek Dennis, President, SCA