Presenter: Jason Smith, Miura North America, Inc..
Both recent economic and environmental conditions in the U.S. have converged to bring about unprecedented attention to energy efficiency and sustainability in the country’s industrial sector. Historically, energy costs in the U.S. have been low in comparison to global averages in some measure due to an extended tolerance for externalized costs related to environmental degradation. Consequently, awareness, innovation, and implementation of technologies focused on energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact have not kept pace with other industrialized nations. A recent survey conducted by Energy & Environmental Analysis, Inc. for Oak Ridge National Laboratory indicates that the current U.S. inventory of commercial/industrial boilers stands at around 163,000 units and 2.7 million MMBtu/hr total fuel input capacity. These boilers consume nearly 8,100 TBtu per year, representing about 40% of all energy consumed in the commercial/industrial sectors. Moreover, this same survey indicates that nearly 50% of all commercial/industrial boilers in the U.S. are 40+ years old, while as many as 80% are 30+ years old. Boilers account for nearly half of all industrial energy consumption and represent one of the most energy-intensive systems involved in the brewing industry. Innovation in conventional boiler technology has stagnated for many decades, and the vast majority of those in operation today are based on 19th-century technology. Given the preponderance of aged, obsolete boiler technology currently in service in this industry, it is critical to raise awareness and examine the role of emerging new technologies to address the energy and environmental challenges inherent with process of steam/heat generation. In the same way that tank-less/instantaneous water heating systems are ushering in a new era in energy efficiency in the residential sector, compact modular on-demand steam-generation systems are poised to support the same kind of transformation in the industrial sector. Moreover, given the large amount of energy consumed and the sharp minute-to-minute variations in process steam demands in the brewing industry, on-demand steam generation has the opportunity to play a significantly larger role in increasing energy efficiency. This presentation will illustrate how emerging on-demand process steam boiler technologies will play a part in addressing the energy and environmental challenges facing the North American brewing industry.
Jason Smith has a background in architecture and engineering, with more than15 years of experience with the design and construction of high-performance “green” buildings and more than 5 years of experience as a LEED accredited professional, integrating sustainable design solutions into facilities that address energy efficiency and contribute to reducing their environmental impact. Jason is celebrating two years with Miura North America, directing energy and environmental initiatives, with a focus on energy efficiency advocacy, education, and market transformation in the area of thermal energy systems. Jason currently chairs the Energy Efficiency Deployment Sub-committee of the Department of Energy’s ITP Steam Systems Best Practices Steering Committee and is an active member of the following organizations devoted to energy efficiency and sustainability: ESC, ACEEE, ASE, IDEA, APPA, ASHE, AEE, and USGBC.
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