Is the maintenance department responsible for energy efficiency?

Increasing energy efficiency can have a huge effect on the plants bottom line. When you are running multiple machines 24 hours a day, every step you take towards maintaining efficient equipment will pay off substantially in the long run.

But whose responsibility is it? Should the maintenance department solely be tasked for the job?

If you are running a successful plant, energy efficiency should be everyone’s responsibility. From the maintenance team and engineers to the supervisors and employees on the line. Where ever an employee can make a difference in increasing efficiency they should feel it is their obligation to speak up.

For the maintenance department, if a machine is not maintained in optimum condition, you are not being efficient. Lack of of efficiency cost time and money, not to take into account frustration at all levels.

Even if maintenance department are not directly told they are “responsible” for energy efficiency, they directly contribute to it. Maintaining air lines that are leaking reduce waste in the compressor room. Optimizing lubrication of bearings reduces the energy required by the motor to slog the rollers through the grease, maintaining steam systems and replacing faulty steam traps reduces the energy required in the boiler room. The list can go on and on.

The more maintenance gets involved with increasing efficiency, the more they are changing their role from a cost centre to a profit centre.