The US pump manufacturers association Hydraulic Institute (HI) announces that 33 of its member companies will lead a National Pump Systems Educational and Market Transformation Initiative called “Pump Systems Matter”™ (PSM).

The program will place a primary focus on pump systems education and outreach, addressing significant energy savings opportunities, and total cost of pump ownership. The initiative is seeking the active support and involvement of non-government organizations focused on market transformation and energy-efficiency, utilities, user companies, consulting engineering firms, other associations and state and federal agencies among others. The first PSM Organization Meeting will be held in conjunction with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) Summer Study Program in West Point, NY.

Announced at the National Market Transformation Symposium in Washington, D.C., Pump Systems Matter is the first industry-led market transformation initiative in the United States.

Optimization of pumping systems represents a significant opportunity for U.S. companies and municipalities to save money and energy while reducing maintenance costs and increasing productivity. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) studies indicate that pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s electrical energy demand and range from 25% to 50% of the energy usage in certain industrial plant operations. DOE case studies have shown that better system design and more effective application of pumps can usually save 20% or more in energy costs and represent a large, frequently overlooked savings opportunity. In the face of rapidly rising energy costs, PSM will offer users very compelling, bottom-line oriented, energy savings opportunities.

HI began the national educational initiative to support the development and deployment of pump system educational materials and tools, administer related training programs and address outreach and educational efforts to various audiences. HI envisions a close working relationship with a variety of other organizations that are also encouraged to join and support this effort. The primary goal of the educational initiative will be to transform the market for pump systems and services to one based on system life cycle costs rather than equipment first costs. As anticipated by the Charter Partners, an effective pump systems educational initiative will serve to transform the market for pumps and pumping systems by:

• Changing owner/operator and contractor focus on lowest first cost to a total life cycle cost in purchasing pumps, pump systems and services, with opportunities for significant bottom-line savings for end-users based on lower energy, maintenance costs and improved operations
• Creating opportunities for expanded demand among owner/operators and contractors for value-added services from the pump industry and expanding the capacity within the pump industry to meet this need
• Developing new educational materials and tools to train and educate pump and supplier OEMs, owner/operators, contractors, and others - meeting a need that is currently unfulfilled
• Developing appropriate outreach efforts to get the message out that “Pump Systems Matter,” ™ and begining to transform the market for energy efficient pump systems and services