Save money with pump systems
Pumps are used in many SME business sectors. For the companies that use pumps as a core part of their business, there are major financial savings to be had by implementing energy efficiency measures:
- When you look at the lifetime running cost of pumps, the purchase price only accounts for up to 15% of the total total lifecycle cost.[1]
- The running and maintenance costs of the pumping equipment account for 50–95% of the overall lifecycle cost.[2]
- Reducing the speed used for fixed loads can reduce running costs by 5–40%.[3]
- During normal operations, the efficiency of a pumping system can degrade by as much as 10-25% before it is eventually replaced. Pump system efficiencies of 50-60% or lower are common.[4]
- Replacing throttling valves with speed controls can reduce running costs by 10–60%.[5]
- Energy reductions of up to 30–50% can be achieved by changes in control systems or pump equipment.[6]
The above figures show that there are big opportunities to reduce the running costs of pumping systems. As such, it pays to use the services of a pump expert who specialises in a ‘whole-of-system’ approach to energy efficiency.
The advice of these experts can reduce the amount of energy used by pumping systems and save a lot of money in the process.
Ways to lower pump energy consumption [7]
| Energy Savings Method | Savings |
| Replace throttling valves with speed controls | 10-60% |
| Reduce speed for fixed load | 5–40% |
| Install parallel system for highly variable loads | 10–30% |
| Replace motor with a more efficient model | 1–3% |
| Replace pump with a more efficient model | 1–2% |
Energy reductions of up to 30-50% can be achieved by changes in control systems or pump equipment.[8]
Alice Springs Reptile Centre, NT
The Alice Springs Reptile Centre installed a ‘variable frequency drive’ (VFD) on a 1.5 Hp pool pump at their heated crocodile pool.
This reduced the pump’s energy use by 62% and led to an annual energy saving of $1,409.
The ‘plug ‘n play’ FutureWave Energy Saver VFD that brought about this saving only cost $964. This gave the project a payback period of only eight months.
Installing this new VFD also led to less wear and tear on the pump and it significantly reduced pump noise levels.
The other benefit is that as electricity prices go up, the annual $1,409 saving will also increase.
More information on pumps and energy efficiency
The ‘Best Practice Guide – Pumping Systems’ report by Sustainability Victoria, is the definitive guide to reducing the energy usage of pumping systems. It shows businesses how to:
- improve the efficiency of existing pumping systems
- design a new pumping system that maximises efficiencies and minimises running costs.
It also gives an excellent summary of design considerations for pumping systems and guidance on how to select a service provider.
If your business has pumping systems, you can download the report from: EnergyCut.info/sv-pumping-systems. [9]
- 1. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 2. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 3. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 4. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 5. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 6. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 7. Table source: Sustainability Victoria ‘Best Practice Guide – Pumping Systems’. Based on information from the work of The Natural Edge Project, Whole System Design Suite – Unit 6 – Worked Example 1 Industrial Pumping Systems, prepared for the Department of Environment and Water Resources, Australia, July 2007. EnergyCut.info/nat-edge-pumps
- 8. EnergyCut.info/pumping-systems
- 9. The author would like to acknowledge Sustainability Victoria and the authors of this report. Most of the information in this ‘Pump Systems’ section is based on their work and the work of The Natural Edge Project.