Educational Initiative Pump Systems Matter

The program will place a primary focus on pump systems education and outreach, addressing energy savings, and total cost of pump ownership.

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 save 20% or more in energy costs and represent a large, frequently overlooked savings opportunity.

HI has begun a national educational initiative to support the development and deployment of pump system educational materials and tools, to administer related training programs and to address outreach and educational efforts to various audiences. The primary goal of the education 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 HI Market Transformation Committee and Board of Directors, 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
• Create opportunities for expanded demand among owner/operators and contractors for value-added services from the pump industry and expand the capacity within the pump industry to meet this need
• Develop new educational materials and tools to train and educate pump and supplier OEMs, owner/operators, contractors, and others
• Develop appropriate outreach efforts to get the message out that “Pump Systems Matter” ™, and begin to transform the market for energy efficient pump systems and services.

For the past few years HI has been involved with developing new educational materials related to pump systems, especially the Pump Life Cycle Cost (LCC) Guide. The e-learning site, www.pumplearning.org, with its first course on “Centrifugal Pumps: Fundamentals, Design, and Applications” and the new Variable Speed Pumping Guide are other valuable resources for pump users.

As a DOE Allied Partner, HI has partnered with DOE to provide technical input for the development of the Pump System Assessment Tool and to offer training for Qualified Pump System Specialists. The “pumps” section of the HI web site already provides considerable “energy savings” guidance, tips, U.S. DOE case studies and tools, including downloadable versions of PSAT software for the benefit of users and non-government organizations. Free downloadable copies of the Executive Summary of the Pump LCC and Variable Speed Pumping Guides are also available from the HI web site, www.pumps.org.

“HI and its members are working with DOE and others to advance the concepts of total cost of ownership. We wrote the book on Pump Life Cycle Cost: A Guide to LCC Analysis for Pumping Systems. Those who focus on total ownership costs, carefully match their pumping needs to system requirements will best be able to reduce their total cost of ownership including energy, operating and maintenance costs. That’s what “Pump Systems Matter”™ is all about”, explained Robert K. Asdal, Executive Director of the Hydraulic Institute.

The Hydraulic Institute, established in 1917, is the largest association of pump producers in North America, serving member companies by providing forums for the exchange of industry information. The Institute has an 87 year legacy of writing pump standards, and is widely acknowledged as the spokesman for the pump industry in North America. HI invites expressions of interest in pump systems market transformation with a major focus on pump systems education, advancing the concept that “Pump Systems Matter”™.