Training Student Engineers through Industrial Energy Conservation: The UIC Industrial Assessment Center

1. Training Student Engineers through Industrial Energy Conservation:The UIC Industrial Assessment Center Investigators: Henry Kurth, Matthew Johnson, William M. Worek, Energy Resources Center Prime Grant Support: U.S. Department of Energy The UIC-IAC promotes the training of young engineers in the understanding of the role of energy efficiency, demand and supply side energy management, and renewable energy practices in basic manufacturing systems and operations. The goals of the program are to provide engineering students with practical experience and training in energy engineering and assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers in identifying opportunities to reduce their energy usage with investment costs that reside inside their capital investment guidelines. IAC Student Conducting a Flue-Gas Test on a Plant Boiler A team of faculty, academic professionals and engineering students visits an industrial plant to conduct a one-day assessment. Opportunities are identified, quantified, analyzed, written-up and then presented to the client in a comprehensive report. Each recommendation is completely explained, with supporting information provided that is justified by calculations, measurements, industry information and vendor cost quotes. Six to nine months after the assessment, follow-up contact is made to determine which recommendations have been implemented, providing a measure of program effectiveness and feedback to the students on how they are impacting industry in a meaningful manner. • Since September 2000, completed over 155 assessments • Over 1,300 recommendations identified and quantified • Over $5.6 million in implemented savings realized by clients • UIC-IAC students have been awarded a number of university and engineering fellowships, scholarships and honors. • Students in the UIC-IAC program have a 100% graduation and placement rate, with the vast majority of students accepting positions with employers well before graduation • Return 15% of the Energy Budget with Investment Costs that pay back in less than 2.5 years