5 Reasons Why Solar Energy Should Be The First To Consider Of Energy Efficiency Technologies

Thousands of industrialists have turned to solar power generation in an effort to reduce energy consumption.  Let’s explore 5 reasons why solar electric power systems will be an important part of our energy future.

Solar electricity is renewable. Sunlight is converted into electricity by photovoltaic cells. Whenever the sun shines, power generation is possible. There is no need to explore for or mine the source of solar electricity.

Electricity costs will be stable and controlled. Once a solar electric power system is installed, it will continue to produce "free electricity" for the next 20 to 25 years.

Solar power will work in just about all areas of the world. Unlike wind power, which is limited to areas that have an average wind speed of greater than 10 miles per hour, the sun shines everywhere. Clouds and, to a certain degree, smog will reduce the efficiency of solar panels, but power can be generated most days.

Sun power is nonpolluting. When the photons in sunlight hit the PV cells, electrons in the PV cells are broken loose, allowing them to flow as electricity. The process is confined to the solar panel and does not produce pollution as a fossil fuel power plant does.

A solar power system can be easily built and installed by the average industrialist. Anyone can drastically reduce the cost of going solar by building their own solar panels. Panels are the major cost of a solar electric power system, and building them can save up to 80 percent.

If you do not have any plans to switch to solar power, you might want to get in touch with an energy service company. Icopower ESCO is an independent Energy Service company which develops, implements, and in order to improve the energy efficiency technologies for facilities over 3 to 5 years, arranges its own project financing.

The mission of Icopower ESCO is to analyze, design, and implement energy efficiency solutions that will create value for facility owners and operators across all sectors in East Africa and beyond.The vision is to contribute to prosperity throughout the region; generating benefits for the economy, the environment, and for society according to the triple bottom line of sustainable development. They can also help you keep an eye on your electric power quality.
For more information, visit www.icopower-esco.com or write to fm@icopower.com.

3 Reasons Why an LED Lighting Retrofit is Worth the Money

Businesses are always looking to cut costs wherever possible. One thing that presents money-saving opportunities is LED technology. Many companies that transition from old lighting technologies to LED save money and may even boost their revenue to some extent because proper lighting improves employee productivity. Let’s look at 3 main reasons why you should not delay embracing this energy saving technology:

1. Energy Savings

LED lights draw a fraction of the energy traditional light fixtures draw, resulting in up to 75% energy savings. Businesses that upgrade to LED technology can achieve a return on investment in 3-4 years; it all depends on how long the lights run each day. Plus, because LED lights last for many years, the savings can go on long after businesses have recouped their investment.

2. Long Lifespan

It is no secret that LEDs have a long lifespan. In fact, the shortest lifespan of LEDs is 50,000 hours, which is still much higher than that of traditional lighting systems. Some LEDs have a lifespan of 100,000 hours, which means they only need to be replaced once every 10 years or so.

3. Enhanced Productivity

Better lighting can improve a business' bottom line. A company's success depends on the productivity of its employees.

LED lighting retrofits produce light, which is similar to the light produced by the sun. When these lights are used in the workplace, employees feel more alert and energized.

In addition, LEDs do not irritate or cause eye strain because they don't buzz or flicker. This helps workers to stay focused and can boost their morale.

Icopower ESCO is an Energy Service Company that is experienced in offering an effective delivery mechanism to provide the maximum amount of energy efficiency resources, project financing, and technologies. It develops, implements, and arranges its own financing for projects that are specifically designed to improve the energy efficiency for facilities over a period of 3 to 5 years. The services provided by Icopower ESCO include solar PV, maintenance, installation, thermography, measurement and verification, power quality solutions, energy monitoring, energy savings contracts, and energy audits. You can learn more about our company and the services we offer at http://www.icopower-esco.com/. You can also get in touch with us by dropping us an email to fm@icopower.com!

How to Ensure Good Power Quality at All Times

Power quality includes three aspects: voltage, frequency, and waveform. When power quality is good, it exhibits a steady voltage supply, steady alternating current/AC frequency, and a smooth waveform of the voltage curve.

To check and ensure that the power quality is good at all times, invest in energy saving techniques such as power quality monitoring and power factor correction.

Disturbances and fluctuations in power supply are caused by a number of factors, such as:

• Load changes
• Atmospheric phenomena and other environmental conditions
• Motor failure
• Electrical or electronic equipment failure
• Overheating of transformers, switch gear, and cabling
• Nuisance tripping of circuit breakers or fuses
• Unstable equipment operation
• High energy usage and costs

Benefits of Power Factor Correction:

• The technical benefits: It improves efficiency and reduction in power demand, resulting in a reduction in the load on switching gear and cables, reduced costs to the consumer, and support for more load.
• Commercial benefits: There are reduced system losses and less capital cost for companies. In addition, there are large savings on electricity since there are no charges for excess reactive power. Another benefit is that the transmission and distribution equipment and systems run more efficiently and last longer.
• Environmental benefits:It helps reduce CO2 emissions.

Benefits of Power Quality Monitoring:

All devices which use electricity can malfunction due to continuous power fluctuations. This can lead to unnecessary expenditure as you may either need to buy them again or constantly fix/maintain them. With the help of power quality monitoring, you can learn how to manage your power supply and the longevity of all items that use electricity.

• It ensures ease and comfort running big industrial equipment
• It helps all workplaces to run properly and smoothly
• It prevents malfunction of electrical equipment

For the best energy saving technology solutions, get in touch with Icopower ESCO - an Energy Service Company that offers a wide range of solutions to help businesses enjoy the benefits of improved energy efficiency. Using a combination of industry experience, manufacturing partnerships, and logistical capabilities, they work around each client's goals for solutions within the shortest time possible.

Visit http://www.icopower-esco.com/ to know more!

5 Effective Solutions to Issues Related to Electric Power Quality

Issues related to electric power quality can be effectively managed if industries adopt solutions like those discussed below.

Solutions to voltage sags – Most voltage-sags can be reduced by using Ferro-resonant transformers. Often known as constant-voltage transformers (CVTs), these conditioners are ideally suited for constant, low-power loads. Load voltage controllers or UPS’s are some other options that can help tackle sag based on sensitivity and response time need.

Solutions to Harmonic Problems – One of the possible methods is to use harmonic filters to divert harmonic current from the facility’s equipment. Plus, adding reactors or isolation transformers on the feeders connected to harmonic producing loads can be a great idea.

Solution to Motor Issues – This can be carried out by adjusting the voltage unbalance and the incompatibilities between adjustable-speed drives and motors.

Solutions to Surges – Voltage surges caused by lightning or switching can be mitigated by surge-suppression devices. Such devices protect equipment by diverting the energy to the ground when the voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the device.

Solutions to Electromagnetic Interference Problems – Electromagnetic interference problems can be managed through four methods – proper grounding, attenuating emissions at the source, shielding sensitive equipment, and capturing and returning emissions to the source. Also, using reactors at the input of an Adjustable Speed Drives (ASD) or connected to its DC link is the most cost-effective way to minimize the effect of capacitor-switching transients on ASDs.

Keeping an eye on the power quality also results in reduced energy consumption. Icopower ESCO is an Independent Energy Service company which develops, implements, and,in order to improve the energy efficiency for facilities over a 3- to 5-year time period, arranges its own project financing. The mission of Icopower ESCO is to analyze, design, and implement energy efficiency solutions that will create value for facility owners and operators across all sectors in East Africa and beyond.The vision is to contribute to prosperity throughout the region, generating benefits for the economy, the environment, and for society according to the triple bottom line of sustainable development. For more information, visit www.icopower-esco.com or write to fm@icopower.com.

How You Can Reduce Energy Consumption at Office

Reducing energy consumption is not only beneficial for your budget, but also for the improvement of the quality of the air we breathe. It is important to be aware of the energy saving solutions that can be adopted in order to implement energy efficiency at an individual level, regardless of if it’s at your office. Some of the most commonly used energy saving solutions are:

• Motion sensor lights and light timers

As the name itself suggests, motion sensor lights turn on by sensing the movement of individuals. The lights then turn off automatically if they fail to detect a presence after a certain amount of time.

• Energy saving surge protectors

A lot of electric devices consume energy even when they are not in use. Surge protectors can help you avoid replacing those devices as they help limit the amount of voltage able to pass through the surge protector to the item.

• Saving energy bulbs

Conventional light bulbs consume much more energy than other light sources, such as Compact Fluorescent Lights, Light Emitting Diodes, and solar lights. When you replace conventional lights with these smarter options, you can save as much as 75 percent on your energy expenses. While they can be a bit more expensive up front, they also last much longer.

• Star energy appliances

The energy star logo on an electric appliance is self-explanatory. That appliance is specially designed to reduce energy consumption.

• Programmable heating thermostats

Most office buildings are centrally heated these days. Programming a thermostat to maintain a comfortable level can help you save as much as 50 percent on your energy bills.

Once you implement these simple solutions, you can take your energy saving to the next level with the help of power quality solutions. Icopower-ESCO is an energy service company that is experienced in offering a delivery mechanism, not just providing the maximum amount of energy efficiency resources. We have extensive design and implementation experience in integrating multiple efficiency measures, mitigating technical and performance risks, and generating energy savings for our clients at almost no capital investment. Our remuneration is based on Energy Saving Performance Contracts whereby our payment is on a shared savings basis. You can learn more about Icopower-ESCO by visiting our website http://www.icopower-esco.com/.

How Energy Efficiency Technologies are Empowering Large-scale Businesses

When the cost of energy is increasing day-by-day, turning to energy efficiency technologies is a wise decision to reduce the cost. It is estimated that energy efficient lighting systems can reduce energy use by up to 82%. These systems also improve the working environment, increase safety, and enhance the well being of workers.

We know how frustrating it can be when a business owner faces energy problems without knowing what’s happening. There should be a one-point solution that can rectify all the problems related to power quality monitoring and power factor correction and help achieve the core business objectives without worrying about power-related obstacles.

If you have a large facility, such as an Office Building, Manufacturing Unit, Industrial Building, Sports Auditorium, Exhibition Hall, Retail and Warehouse, Production Line, Educational Institution, Healthcare Facility or a Housing and Real Estate Venture, you are an ideal resource to integrate energy management solutions.

For a business, lowering energy usage, utility expenses, and their carbon footprint with energy-efficient technologies and power management solutions is important. To attain it, you should seek the right company that provides Energy Management Solutions for your needs. The benefits of hiring the services of a power management company are immense, but the key ones you will see are -

• Able to provide a productive and safe working environment
• Able to reduce energy costs and optimize sustainability
• Your business facility will start performing at its best
• A decrease in lifecycle costs and the best return on investment is guaranteed
• Your building automation system will start performing efficiently

The Benefits of Power Quality Monitoring and Power Factor Correction Services 

Power quality monitoring can save you up to 30% of your annual energy consumption.

Benefits of Power Quality Monitoring services are -

• Reduce power factor penalties
• Help reduce peak demand
• Assist in preventive and predictive maintenance
• Determine the need for mitigation equipment
• Ensure equipment performance
• Assess the sensitivity of process equipment to disturbances
• Benchmark overall system performance
• Improve energy rates

Benefits of Power Factor Correction services are -

• Eliminate the penalty of low power factor from the Electric Supply Company
• Increased system capacity (generators, cables, transformers)
• Improved voltage regulation
• Reduced losses in transformers and cables
• May reduce harmonics on the power system (with harmonic filters)
• Greening the power system
• Increase in efficiency of system and devices
• Low Voltage Drop
• Line Losses (Copper Losses) I2R is reduced

If you are looking to invest in energy efficiency technologies, talk to an expert at Icopower ESCO. Visit http://icopower-esco.com/ and request a callback.

Get Rid of Your Energy Efficiency Problems with These Effective Solutions

The consumption of energy at home is one of the major contributors to your overall household expenses. However, not many people are aware that issues related to energy efficiency can be dealt with easily by adopting a few simple solutions. Adopting these solutions helps you lower your monthly bills, helps you put up a fight against the continuation of climate change, and helps you contribute to improving the quality of air around you. Besides keeping an eye on the electric power quality, here is a list of other things you can do:

• Switch to better lighting systems

Enough statistics have revealed how LEDs are better than all other available lighting options. They are brighter, last longer and above all, are energy efficient!

• Using programmable heating thermostats

The best thing about having a programmable heating thermostat installed is that you can program it to use a minimal amount of energy when away from home. It helps you save as much as 50 percent on your usual electricity bill. Why keep your home at 21 deg C when you aren’t there?

• Make use of energy saving surge protectors and power strips

Are you aware that there are devices that consume power even when they are switched off? Surge protectors help you in getting rid of that extra load.

• Look for star-rated energy appliances

Finding an energy efficient appliance among all those on the market has never been easier. All you have to do is look for the Energy Star logo, and there you go!

• Installing motion sensor lights and light timers

As the name suggests, these lights work by turning off lights when and where it is not required.

These simple steps can save you a great deal, both in terms of energy as well as money. Icopower ESCO is an energy saving company that develops, implements, and arranges its own financing for projects using the latest energy efficiency technologies for facilities in Kenya and Seychelles. Find out more by visiting www.icopower-esco.com.