IN THIS ISSUE                                      

WASTE OIL REUSE CAN HELP BALANCE BOTTOM LINE

REDUCED ENERGY CONSUMPTION MEANS REDUCED GREENHOUSE GAS -

PART 1

JAY SAYS

WASTE OIL REUSE CAN HELP BALANCE BOTTOM LINE

As manufacturers look for every cost advantage they can find in a sluggish economy, they may want to consider recycling waste oil for heat or selling it to an authorized recycler.

"If there were not enough environmental reasons to resell or reuse oil already, there's absolutely no reason you should not be reclaiming your oil," insisted Abanaki Corp.'s Tom Hobson in a Nov. 4 press release. "The oil you can recycle from your own plant can be reused in an industrial heater or an authorized recycler will buy it from you."

For some time, Hobson and those in his Cleveland-based company have been encouraging plants to recognize the financial advantages of turning waste oil into profit. With an oil skimmer, a company can collect up to 200 gallons per hour of oil or grease from wastewater. "Oil skimming cost-effectively reclaims oil from wastewater, and as heating bills climb during the winter, they can save energy costs by burning it," Hobson said. "In fact, burning spent oil in the proper furnace can often deliver a higher Btu [British thermal unit] value than new oil."

Since used oil usually has a thicker viscosity, it possesses more energy than #2 fuel oil and more than twice the energy value of LP gas or coal. Waste oils that can be burned for heat include almost any oil up to 50 S.A.E.: metal-cutting oils, lube oil, crankcase oil, transmission and hydraulic fluid, #1 and #2 diesel fuel, vegetable oils, and grease.

"The EPA supports the burning of used oil on site," Hobson explained, "because it prevents oil from entering the watershed and eliminates the risk of spills during transportation."

Those considering reselling their waste oil can turn to authorized recyclers such as David Charlton, chief executive officer of Akron-based Rice Environmental Services (RES), a 15-year veteran in the collection and recycling of used oils, as well as anti-freeze and oil filters, from commercial and industrial businesses.

"It comes down to this — one, you can sell the clean, dry used oil or, two, you can recycle it," said Charlton, whose company is part of the National Oil Recyclers Association (NORA). Established in 1985, NORA promotes "the primary mission of fighting the hazardous waste designation of used oil and [has] aided in the development of the EPA's used oil management standards."

"We're completely on board to remove oil from water," said Charlton, who pointed out that The Rice Companies not only recycle but also sell industrial and automotive lubricants. "It not just about reusing and recycling. It's about rethinking how things are done. It's the higher goal of sustainability."

Two years ago, an Abanaki-sponsored survey showed 78 percent of respondents were searching for ways to cut plant costs. Thirty-five percent said they would consider burning waste oils. Only eight percent said that their plants already burned waste oil for heat.

Environmental Protection (http://www.eponline.com)

REDUCED ENERGY CONSUMPTION MEANS REDUCED GREENHOUSE GAS - Part 1

Greenhouse Gases, Climate Change, and Energy

What Are Greenhouse Gases?

Many chemical compounds found in the Earth’s atmosphere act as “greenhouse gases.” These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. When sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of it is re-radiated back towards space as infrared radiation (heat). Greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the heat in the atmosphere. Many gases exhibit these “greenhouse” properties. Some of them occur in nature (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide), while others are exclusively human made (certain industrial gases). Over time, if atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases remain relatively stable, the amount of energy sent from the sun to the Earth’s surface should be about the same as the amount of energy radiated back into space, leaving the temperature of the Earth’s surface roughly constant.

Why Are Atmospheric Levels Increasing?
Levels of several important greenhouse gases have increased by about 25 percent since large-scale industrialization began around 150 years ago (Figure 1). During the past 20 years, about three-quarters of anthropogenic (human-caused) emissions came from the burning of fossil fuels. Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are naturally regulated by numerous processes collectively known as the “carbon cycle” (Figure 2).

Figure 1.Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Carbon Dioxide
Concentrations (1751-2004)

 

The movement (“flux”) of carbon between the atmosphere and the land and oceans is dominated by natural processes, such as plant photosynthesis. While these natural processes can absorb some of the net 6.2 billion metric tons (7.2 billion metric tons less 1 billion metric tons of sinks) of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions produced each year (measured in carbon equivalent terms), an estimated 4.1 billion metric tons are added to the atmosphere annually. This positive imbalance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption results in the continuing increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Figure 2. Global Carbon Cycle (Billion Metric Tons Carbon)

What Effect Do Greenhouse Gases Have on Climate Change?
In computer-based models, rising concentrations of greenhouse gases produce an increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth over time. Rising temperatures may, in turn, produce changes in precipitation patterns, storm severity, and sea level commonly referred to as “climate change.”

Assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggest that the Earth’s climate has warmed between 0.6 and 0.9 degrees Celsius over the past century and that human activity affecting the atmosphere is “very likely” an important driving factor.¹ The IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (Summary for Policymakers) states, “Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.” It goes on to state, “The observed widespread warming of the atmosphere and ocean, together with ice mass loss, support the conclusion that it is extremely unlikely that global climate change of the past 50 years can be explained without external forcing, and very likely that it is not due to known natural causes alone.”

¹According to the IPCC “very likely” indicates that there is a 90 percent chance that this is the case.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/pdf/appk.pdf

 

 

Dear Reader,

THE economy continues to slow down and the stock market has lost significant value. Many industries remain strong in spite of this turmoil. Our business orders have continued, and appear to be coming from energy related areas of the economy.

The need to reduce fuel consumption and expenses is on-going. Each company must make a decision to REDUCE EXPENSES BY REDUCING EXPERIENCED STAFF OR FIND NEW WAYS TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS TO STAY PROFITABLE. Many businesses do not have a method to reduce energy costs, so the only course of action is to cut labor costs and lose valuable experienced employees.

Klaus Equipment Company offers a Process Audit to determine existing energy wastes. This is a wiser option to reduce operation expenses.

Best Regards,

Jay Klaus

Klaus Equipment Company

jklaus@klausequipment.com