Energy Efficiency Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Unitherm Insulation Systems

April 3, 2015 by UniAdmin

UniTherm @ NPE 2015

UniTherm has spent the last year preparing for NPE 2015 and boy what a year it has been. NPE 2015 wrapped up just last week, but we are still dealing with the aftermath. We decided to take our NPE presence one step further this year. We are a growing company, on the forefront of innovation. Just because we lead the way in our market, doesn’t mean we are going to stop moving forward. Here’s what NPE 2015 was like for us and what we got out of it.

NPE 2015 Preparation

Kendal, Danny, and Brandyn discuss literature handouts for NPE.

Before heading to NPE, we had to come up with our message and what we wanted to showcase at the conference. In the years past, we took a “see what sticks” approach, showcasing all of our products and trying to answer every question for every application. As you could expect, this became very exhausting and spread our team extremely thin. For NPE 2015, we wanted to do the exact opposite and shake things ups. We had one goal in mind: Promote and Inform customers about our standardized product lines, in this case, the UniVest® Insulation Systems line. This approach made everything much simpler and more focused. We moved forward with having our entire booth to be designed around promoting the UniVest® product line. Brochures, koozies, mock barrels, and live heated applications, everything was UNIVEST®. This more focused marketing approach allowed our entire team to be able to handle anyone and almost any questions they may have had. The simple and standardized design of the UniVest line is built for ease of use and presents a minimal learning curve for users. Literally, (as many of us put it) if you have heat, you can benefit from using UniVest®. We moved forward with this single goal in mind and put together one fantastic booth.

Show

UniTherm booth before the show opens.

For many on the UniTherm team, this was their first NPE. Some nerves were high, but we planned ahead of time to anticipate questions that could be asked and went over all of the key points of the UniVest® line. On Monday morning, we hit the ground running. Our booth was immediately swamped with attendees inquiring about our booth, our company, our products, and, of course, our T-Rex. Through the entire show, there were very few moments we had to ourselves. We had all types of questions, for a myriad of applications, and even received some that we hadn’t thought of before. We had our typical injection molders, extrusion, and blown film plastic processors interested in our jackets, but some attendees had different ideas for our jackets. Have you ever thought of heat loss in your BBQ smoker? Neither did we, but one gentleman thought our ThrowBlankets with magnets would be the perfect solution. How about insulation for marine turbine exhaust? The way it was explained to me was it’s basically a jet engine on a boat. Of course, we’d love to help with that!

We were able to generate more leads, within the first 3 days at NPE, surpassing the amount produced from an entire week’s worth of the previous years. The overall reception of our booth and products was fantastic. We ran out of handouts, our signature koozies, and 50 lbs. chiclet gum by day 4. What a good problem to have!

We also decided to expand our reach at NPE this year by doing a short video series highlighting some exhibitors at this year’s conference. Videos were produced, shot, conducted, and edited by our in-house marketing team and can be seen here:

Post-NPE 2015

NPE Leads, Leads, and More Leads.

The work doesn’t stop after the Expo ends. Once we got home, editing on the videos we shot began and came out quickly for people to see the recap of the show. We collectively took a sigh of relief we all survived the show. Now, with the great responses, leads, and business cards we received, now we have to follow up! This is where the real fun begins.

Let’s just say, this is going to take some time. It’s obvious why NPE is only every 3 years! We have some very special campaigns in the works for those who had the chance to visit us so be on the lookout!

Now, we prepare for NPE 2018. Who knows what we’ll bring to that show, but I can guarantee it will be amazing!

For more about UniTherm at NPE 2015, visit our social media pages:

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Twitter

Youtube

January 21, 2015 by UniAdmin

4 Common Misconceptions About Industrial Insulation

We come across many people who have the wrong idea about industrial insulation and think what we offer is not right for them. We ask them a few questions, and usually they are left wondering why they haven’t insulated their equipment sooner. We throw them a UniVest and they rush out the door to install it (cause it’s really that simple).

So we don’t have to go through the same spiel every time, we’ve compiled the most common misconceptions people have when it comes to industrial insulation.

1. Insulation is for my home, not my machines

This is the most common one we come across and it’s pretty obvious why. The first thing people think about when you say insulation is their home and what’s inside their walls. That’s a perfect analogy because UniVests work the same way. Properly insulating your home saves you hundreds of dollars a year on home heating and cooling costs. It protects outside temperatures from affecting the temperatures you want inside. The easier it is for your home to maintain its temperature, the less you spend at the end of the month. UniVests are no different, except we deal with higher inside temperatures. Take a second and think, if you save hundreds by properly insulating your home, imagine how much could be saved when insulating your machine. We’ll give you a hint…its much greater!

2. No Budget for Insulation

We all have budgets. Yeah, and we know they can be small and hard to deal with. Trust us, Windows 98 is getting really old at the office. Making new purchases on things that you are already operating without can seem like a luxury purchase. Little known fact is that with proper insulation, a company can see ROI (Return on Investment) in under 12 months. In the right conditions, a single set of UniVests or ISOCOVERS can last 5+ years after installed. That’s 5+ years of return. In 12 months or less, most companies make back the purchase price of a UniVest from energy savings alone.

3. My machines are working fine now without insulation

We’re sure they do, but wouldn’t you like for them to work better? Insulation minimizes the downtime of the machines they are on and relieves stresses from a hard working machine. This even increases the lifespan of the equipment. Wouldn’t we all like to work a little easier? Your machines would too.

4. Who Needs Protection Anyway

The biggest thing that people don’t realize is that insulation also improves workplace safety. As seen in a few of our videos on Youtube, a heated barrel with a UniVest on it can be touched and worked around without any special protective gear. More Safety = Less downtime and less liability. Insulation can also decrease surrounding ambient air temperature. Decreasing work fatigue due to high temperature and more comfortable work areas.

Here’s typically the point where some people are kicking themselves for not already having insulation installed. If you didn’t make it this far, we completely understand. Our insulation systems are much more than the sum of their parts and offer a lot more usability than most people realize. If you’ve finally come to the conclusion that insulation could benefit you, take a look around our online shopping cart at www.shop.unitherm.com. For some help finding the product, measuring, or just want some more insulation entertainment like this blog, visit our youtube page: www.Youtube.com/UniThermInsulations

February 11, 2014 by Kendal White

Different isn’t always better…but better is always different

Every business always has the same goal: to become world-class through everyday changes by meeting the needs of demanding customers who will become more demanding, all in a constantly evolving marketplace.

This can be a particularly challenging dilemma for those entrepreneurs who create businesses around high quality goods or specialized information. One way to work around this challenge is to present those goods or information as customized thereby enhancing the customer’s experience. Organizations realize they can often add value for their customers by tailoring or customizing their products to meet the special needs of individual buyers.

However, there is a limitation.

Pure customization requires starting from scratch every time you receive a new customer request. This can be time consuming and ultimately drives up the total cost of the finished product or service. Even though you want to be flexible to meet client needs, being overly customized has some serious down sides.

And this is where the incorporation of some type of standardization comes to the rescue.

At a time when we are constantly being told to value the new and the different, it may come as a shock to learn that the standard, the shared and the common can be a driving force of change. Indeed, many of the innovations that have transformed the world, including railroads, modern manufacturing and interchangeable parts, money, agriculture, containerized shipping, numbers, the Internet, even language, only succeed because of standardization.

Advantages of standardization

Manufactures:

Rationalize different varieties of products.
Decrease the volume of products in the store and also the manufacturer cost.
Improve the management and design.
Speed up the management of orders.
Facilitate the exportation and marketing of products.
Simplify purchasing management.

Consumer:

Establish quality and safety level to the service and products.
Inform to the characteristic of the products.
Make easier the comparison between the different offers

Public service:

Simplify the production of legal text.
Establish quality, environmental and safety policies.
Help to the economical development.
Facilitate the business.

One of the best-known examples of standardized mass production was the ‘Model T’ car produced in 1908 by Henry Ford. An unchanging design, standardized parts and (from 1914) a moving assembly line all helped reduce costs dramatically, from $850 in 1910 to $360 in 1916. Hence, the term Fordize: “to standardize a product and manufacture it by mass means at a price so low that the common man can afford to buy it.”

A modern day example of the power of standardization is the GSM™ mobile communication technology and its successors (3G, 4G…), truly global phenomena, in which ETSI has played a leading role. Although GSM was originally envisaged as a solution just for Europe, these technologies have been deployed worldwide. As a result, travelerstoday can communicate and use familiar services in every corner of the world – all thanks to standardization.

Without standardization these innovations may not have happened or may have not reached as many people as they have.

Standardization is not a bad thing, but like anything else when it is not used properly or with the right intent it can cause people to fear it. Don’t be afraid of standards. Use them to help you toward your creative goal. You don’t need to reinvent your process each time you have a new customer. Figure out the best systems for working with a client and use them over and over again. If you create strong standards, you actually have a better platform to generate customizable projects. If you save time and energy on the basic things, you can get your creative on where it will make the most impact.

October 10, 2013 by Kendal White

All Aboard the Simplicity Train- Final Destination, Further Money Gain!

Energy efficiency, in theory, is one of the simplest ways to save money. As energy costs continue to rise, industrial industries in particular, need effective ways to reduce the amount of energy they consume. America’s manufacturing sector is the largest in the world and reducing energy waste at industrial facilities can provide huge benefits for companies by boosting industrial competitiveness while creating and retaining jobs through cost-effective energy efficiency improvements

According to the U.S. Energy Administration, estimates show that the industrial sector consumes more energy every year than any other U.S. entity. Yet, reaping savings in the industrial sector is more like a scavenger hunt thanks to the myth that energy efficiency improvements are easily attainable. Energy efficiency in this area is always more work, and it requires a good amount of experimentation.

So what makes the industrial sector so much different? Here are a few factors to consider:

Industrial environments are extremely complex and consistently changing, making predictions far more difficult to ascertain due to various factors such as weather, product variation and constantly changing schedules.
Efficiency is a relatively low priority for many industrial companies. Industrial customers are very risk-averse and will not make changes to existing processes if they could jeopardize the flow of operations.

It may seem that big problems require big solutions…

When it comes to guaranteed money savings and economical, efficient operation of a vast array of facilities, using thermal insulation is like “solid gold.” With rising energy costs and the unwanted environmental emissions accompanying lost energy, the time has definitely come for facility owners, operators and energy managers to fully take advantage of this valuable money saving, energy conserving, and emissions reducing tool.

So it all comes down to money. This makes it critical to find solutions that are easy to install and support; and offer you the most value for your money.

A major culprit across all industries is heat waste, the byproduct of inefficient technology. The more heat you lose the higher the cost, so identifying key areas for insulation can go a long way towards increasing efficiency. Equipment valves, flanges, expansion joints, and other irregular surfaces are common culprits of heat leakage. Routine system maintenance on industrial processes often involves removing insulation on pipe valves and fittings. If it is not replaced, the energy loss can be substantial.

To circumvent these issues, many industrial professionals have turn to removable/reusable insulation jackets to maximize heat retention and increase performance. The efficiency and proficiency of utilizing a removable/reusable insulation jacket, translates into improved facility and personnel protection, enhanced operational efficiency, and less energy consumption- easily making this product a no brainer for companies.

In a nutshell….

Companies need to work smarter, not just harder, in order to be successful. A company’s success should be measured by how wisely it uses energy, water, and other resources; how well it maintains a high quality of life for its people; and how smart it is in building prosperity on a sustainable foundation. Companies must become smarter about how they use existing capacity and resources in order to be productive and profitable. If not, they will be overshadowed and outpaced by other companies that are laying the foundation to prepare for future growth.

September 24, 2013 by Kendal White

I want to say one word to you. Just one word: Plastics!

Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.

Benjamin: Yes, sir.

Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?

Benjamin: Yes, I am.

Mr. McGuire: Plastics.

Benjamin: Exactly how do you mean?

Mr. McGuire: There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?

When Walter Brooke, as Mr. McGuire, spoke those words to Dustin Hoffman in his legendary role as Benjamin Braddock in the classic film The Graduate, audiences would not have known just how enduring the future of plastics would be. Since 1976, plastics have been the most used material in the United States and will most likely continue to be used in many years to follow.

However, plastics have a bad rap for the ways that they negatively impact the environment; it is inexpensive to make and easy to discard. Plastic morphed from an engineering triumph into a global plague. A 2000 survey conducted by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), discovered that fewer than half of Americans had a positive opinion of the miracle material; and 25 percent “strongly believed” that plastic’s environmental negatives outweighed its benefits.

Plastics are ubiquitous; they are an intrinsic part of our modern world. Plastics are incredibly useful, and despite their reputation, can be an energy efficient alternative to their glass and aluminum counterparts. Plastics are not only energy efficient, but saves the United States dollars by the second. In a recently conducted test, researchers found out that by using plastic over other materials such as glass and metal, the United States economy could save over $336 trillion. Plastics certainly have made a home in our world’s economy as the “useful innovation of the millennium.”

However, plastic requires more than just an image makeover if it’s going to make a positive contribution to a more energy efficient, less disposable world. The solution may be for plastic to keep doing what it does best—evolving, in essence, to become a better substitute for its current form; to focus not solely on what new plastics will be used for, but where they will go when they’re thrown away, and then engineer them to break down accordingly.

May 21, 2013 by Kendal White

The Future of Energy Efficient Vehicles + (Infographic)

Flying cars were expected to be the future by 2000; despite erroneous expectations, cars have become radically advanced within recent years. Cutting-edge technology has prompted the birth of the car of the future due to anxieties of energy efficiency and rising pollution.

By 2025, all new U.S. vehicles must be equipped with a 55mpg+ fuel range. To contend with new fuel regulations, each year a car must be 5% more fuel-efficient. The price at the pump is expected to increase 25% by 2025; presently, the average vehicle gulps an annual average of $1700. Future hybrid & electric vehicles may cost $2400 more, but consumers will save $8200 in additional expenses.

Plug-in vehicles (PEV) or electric vehicles (EV) are gaining in popularity, but critics cite inflated prices, shortage of fueling stations, and limp technology advancements as probable disappointments. Despite the EV knockers, the Tesla Model S recently earned Car of the year for 2012 by Automobile Magazine and received Motor Trend’s Car of the Year honors in 2013. Cadillac, BMW, Audi, and Honda are soon to follow in the EV trend in 2014.

Alternative fuels are the clean fuels of the future: liquid petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol, biodiesel, and natural gas. LPG and natural gas are undoubtedly promising; these domestic fossil fuels yield less toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases. Biodiesel, unlike its petroleum counterpart, originates from vegetable oils and animal fats. Corn and other domestic crops create ethanol. The government promotes these unorthodox fuels with alluring tax incentives to qualifying consumers.

House Bill 2453 may leave an unpleasant taste in some consumer’s mouths after it is passed. This tax, to be blunt, fines individuals to drive an electric vehicle. This gas tax would be aimed at 2015 or later vehicles, with 55 miles/gallon or more. A little background information: 60% of state projects are funded by taxes on gasoline. Thus, states are collecting less tax money because of existing and future electric and hybrid vehicles. Point blank, the fee would be 1.56 cents per mile.

These destined energy efficient vehicles could conceivably constitute 65% of the market in 2025. Consumer demand, credits, and government incentives will determine the car dealership of the future.

April 29, 2013 by Kendal White

[Infographic] Reasons To Go Green

Top 10 Cleanest Countries

Iceland
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Sweden
Norway
Mauritius
France
Austria
Cuba
Columbia

Types ofMost Recyclable Plastics

PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
HDPE (high-density polyethylene)
PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
LDPE (low-density polyethylene)
PP (polypropylene)
PS (polystyrene)
Others

How to Recycle Plastic

Curbside Collection: some communities offer curbside collection of plastics for recycling
Bottle Banks: you can exchange plastic bottles for money in some states
Recycling Centers: take plastic items to be recycled

Recycling reduces the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills, decreases the amount of natural resources used to make plastic, and saves energy.

4 Reasons to Go Green

Endangered Animals: as many as 247 animals are on the critically endangered list as of 2008.
Deforestation: 8% drop in the amount of earth covered by rain forests. Many experts suggest the rain forest will be entirely eliminated by 2050.
Global Warming: an increase in carbon dioxide that has led to global warming.
Growing Landfills: filled with trash that could take millions of years to decompose

Top 10 Polluting Countries

China
United States
Russia
India
Japan
Germany
Canada
United Kingdom
South Korea
Iran

April 23, 2013 by Kendal White

Renewable Energy And The Crusade Towards Innovation

Renewable energy is continually replenished and non-polluting: geothermal, sun, water, and wind. The popularity of renewable energy is growing due to high oil prices, change, government legislation, and mounting government support paired with incentives. Greenhouse gases are detrimental to the Earth’s atmosphere; these gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere, thus trapping heat in the atmosphere. These rising temperatures may trigger climate change. Greenhouse gases in North America are primarily from energy consumption due to economic growth

Solar power technologies utilize the sun’s energy to provide electricity. Solar power supplies less than 1% of U.S energy requirements; nevertheless, solar technologies are quickly advancing. Solar technologies used for harnessing solar energy include photovoltaic cells, passive solar designs, and flat-plate collectors. The applications used to adapt solar power into electricity are costly, yet, the substantial potential of solar energy remains.

Hydropower is the most conventional renewable energy source, and uses flowing water to produce electricity. Major dam sites in the United States include the Tennessee Valley, the Colorado River, and the Northwest. Hydropower is suitable for supplying large electricity requirements and is the least expensive renewable energy source.

Wind energy applies wind turbines to generate electricity; this sector of renewable energy is the fastest growing. Ideal placement for turbines is in an area of strong winds: Alaska, the Appalachians, and the western United States.

Geothermal energy utilizes natural sources of heat trapped beneath the Earth. Underground hot water or steam is the conventional form of generating power. Geothermal technologies embrace geothermal heat pumps, direct-use systems, and reservoirs.

Innovative technologies continuously attempt to improve the employment of renewable energy.

Livestock methane gas emission is a severe threat to the global climate. In British Columbia, the Cowpower Program encourages residents to pay a slight percentage on their utility bill. This premium will help pay for an anaerobic digester- bacteria is converted into organic material, creating energy.

Groundbreaking transportation could ease the reliance on fossil fuels for energy. The invention of a speed vacuum train could be reality in the near future. A speed-vac train is based upon the idea of removing the air from a sealed tub, and pressing a train through. Conventional trains use a great deal of energy; the vacuum theory would be matched with magnetic levitation devices, allowing trains to reach 4,000 mph.

The latest in solar technology has spawned the idea of a device to trap light, which progresses the proficiency of organic solar shells by 175%. This “black hole for light” could possibly allow for an economical, marketable solar shell.

July 3, 2012 by Kendal White

[Infographic] Where Would We Be Without Plastics?

There’s no denying that plastics are integrated into pretty much every part of our daily lives. Here at UniTherm, the plastics industry makes up a huge part of our business – so we thought it only fitting to do a little digging into the most significant advances in plastics.

Click to View Full Size

1862—At the Great International Exhibition in London, Alexander Parkes demonstrates an organic material derived from cellulose that when heated, molded, and cooled can retain an entirely new shape.

1868—Celluloid is used as a substitute for ivory in billiard balls.

1872—The Hyatt brothers patent the first plastics injection molding machine.

1880—Cellulose nitrate replaces horn in hair combs.

1890—Thermoforming is developed and used to make babies rattles and teething rings from cellulose nitrate.

1892—British chemists develop viscose silk (rayon).

1900—Swiss chemist develops cellophane.

1910—Stockings made of rayon are manufactured in Germany.

1915—At the British Industries Fair, Queen Mary admires casein products and orders several pieces of jewelry made from it.

1916—Rolls Royce begins to use phenol formaldehyde in its car interiors.

1926 – Eckert & Ziegler patent first commercial modern plastics injection molding machine.

1930—3M invents Scotch tape, the first transparent sticky tape.

1935—Wallace H. Carothers develops nylon at DuPont.

1937—Italian and German engineers produce the first twin-screw extruder machine.

1938 – First toothbrush with nylon tufts is manufactured.

1940—PVC is produced in the UK.

1942—Dr. Harry Coover at Eastman Kodak discovers Super Glue.

1945—Sqezy plastic bottles begin to replace glass bottles for shampoos and soaps.

1948—Swiss engineer invents Velcro.

1949—Tupperware made from low-density polyethylene launched in the US.

1949—Joseph Strivers develops Lycra at DuPont.

1950s—The polyethylene bag is introduced.

1956—The first commercially successful car with an entire glass-reinforced-plastic body goes on sale in the UK.

1957—The Wham-O Toy Company creates the Hula Hoop.

1958—Lego produces pegged blocks from cellulose acetate.

1959—At the American International Toy Fair, Mattel unveils the Barbie Doll.

1960s—Water-based acrylic paints are introduced.

1969—Neil Armstrong plants a nylon flag on the moon.

1973—PET (polyethylene terephthalate) beverage bottles are introduced.

1976—Plastics become the most used type of material in the world.

1979—The first commercial mobile phones introduced.

1979—The first PVC-U double-glazed windows installed.

1982—The first artificial heart made mainly of polyurethane is implanted in a human.

1983—The slim Swatch watch is made with 51 plastic components.

1988—Triangular recycling symbols are introduced.

1991—Dyson launches popular vacuum cleaner in Japan.

1994—A smart car is made with colored polycarbonate panels that are lightweight and flexible.

2001—Apple develops the iPod.

2009—Boeing nicknames a 747 “Boeing’s Plastic Dream” because 50% of the plane is made from plastic material.

June 6, 2012 by Kendal White

Budgeting For Energy Efficiency Projects

Companies always look to make the best decisions when selecting capital projects to work into the budget; simple metrics like Return on Investment and Internal Rate of Return tend to dictate how the budget for these projects is written each year. In an effort to increase the bottom line, investments are often times funneled toward projects and purchases that directly affect sales rather than decreasing operating costs, but sales growth is never guaranteed.
In other cases, capital projects are indefinitely suspended, forcing companies to make due with what they have until either more funding becomes available or sales increase. [Read more…]

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