Course Description

This course caters to Engineers, Technicians, Facilities Managers, Energy Professionals, Architects, and other professionals who are interested in enhancing their understanding of the concept of energy and utilities and would like to learn about methods, best practices, and strategies for reducing energy demand, energy consumption, and energy costs in an industrial, commercial, transportation, and residential environments. The importance and pertinence of four faceted energy outlooks are explained and discussed. This course addresses usage, cost, and conservation of energy in its more common forms such as electrical, compressed air, fuel/natural gas, steam, heat, etc. This course will familiarize attendees with various ways for reducing energy costs through well-planned, specific, and results-oriented projects and methods of operation. The instructor - with years of experience in energy project implementation and energy program/process development – shows how substantial energy cost reduction can be achieved with little or no capital investment. Some such projects can be pursued in collaboration with and through sponsorship of local utility companies. Some of the myths associated with electricity and gas contracts will be exposed. Energy audits and tools needed to perform audits will be discussed. Practical examples of energy monitoring systems will be presented. The attendees will also be, briefly, introduced to some of the more proven renewable energy alternatives.

Learning Objectives - Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply principles and concepts associated with common forms of energy (electric, hydrocarbon, compressed air, steam, stack heat, etc.) in industrial, commercial, transportation, and residential environments to assess the energy intensity and energy productivity differences between alternative manufacturing, operations, and process systems, with a clear understanding of the physics and engineering fundamentals of energy in its various forms.
• Apply energy engineering metrics - associated with different forms of energy, i.e. electrical, hydrocarbon fuel energy, heat energy, pressure energy, etc. - to quantify how much energy is being consumed and how efficiently energy is being utilized in operations and facilities of various types. Examples of energy metrics include MMBtus, MMBtus/ton or product, kWh, kWh/ton of product, Joules, etc.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement high-value energy conservation opportunities based on energy facts, energy engineering principles, application of SCADA, Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition, and type Energy Management Systems (EMS). Develop architecture and design of EMS systems for specific energy measurement, real-time monitoring – and in some cases – energy conservation-related control applications.
• Apply proven energy engineering and equipment sustainability best practices that can minimize overall energy intensity and enhance equipment durability in industrial, commercial, and residential facilities, and in the transportation arena.
• Apply a four-faceted approach in the development of corporate or facility-level energy management plans. This four-faceted approach includes (1) a Focus on Energy Productivity Improvement, (2) a Focus on Energy Cost Minimization, (3) a Focus on Energy Supply/Source, and (4) Energy Storage.
• Apply Power Factor and Load Factor improvement engineering principles and methods to enhance electrical power quality, electrical energy productivity, and electrical equipment sustainability. Calculation of power factor and load factor will be illustrated in addition to quantification of the benefits realized through these efforts.
• Distinguish between high efficacy and low efficacy lighting systems on the basis of watts/lumen or watts/foot-candle and apply the coefficient of utilization approach in the design and specification of facility illumination systems – all, ultimately precipitating in lower overall energy intensity.
• Apply proven best practices in the HVAC realm to achieve optimal HVAC system operation and higher energy productivity.
• Apply proven best practices in the operation and maintenance of compressed air systems to maximize their utilization and minimize energy intensity associated with compressed air generation, distribution, and consumption.

Class Schedule:

Part I

• Energy Basics and its Various Forms. Energy Facts and Statistics
• Electricity Basics and Electrical Rate Schedules
• EMS/BMS, Energy Monitoring, and Building Monitoring Systems
• Power Factor Correction
• Energy Conservation in Lighting

Part II

• Cogeneration
• Energy Conservation in HVAC Systems, Steam Systems, Compressed Air Systems, Residential Facilities, and in the Transportation Sector
• Energy Audits
• Energy Conservation Tips; “The Low-Hanging Fruit”
• Financial Justification and Implementation of Energy Projects

Why you shouldn’t miss this seminar – How this seminar can benefit your organizations, what is unique about this course:

• Are you responsible for reducing the energy intensity, or increasing the energy productivity, in your operations or those of your clients, and you feel inadequately prepared to lead the effort, or perhaps you don’t know where to begin? Then, this seminar is a must.
• Do you, as an engineer or energy manager, feel that your knowledge and understanding of larger energy cost reduction opportunities need enhancement? Then you must not miss this proven and frequently updated seminar.
• Do you feel that the financial justification of energy conservation projects is an “uphill battle” in your organization? Then, this seminar will give you the opportunity to air your challenges and frustrations. You will learn about some proven approaches – both technical and financial – for successful energy project funding and implementation.
• How often do you get a chance to attend a course or a seminar that is presented by the author of the books on the subject matter - in person? In this seminar, you will have the opportunity to interact and learn from Bobby Rauf, the author of the texts, titled: (1) Thermodynamics Made Simple for Energy Engineers, and (2) Finance and Accounting for Energy Engineers. (Copies of these books are available at additional cost).
• As an engineer, and energy professional, do you find the concept of power factor, the application, and benefits of VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), application of EMS (Energy Management Systems) – as energy conservation measures – elusive? Then, this seminar will present an excellent opportunity to remedy that.
• So, as a plant engineer, facilities manager, or energy professional, you know that compressed air is a costly resource from an energy point of view, yet, you are not sure where to begin short of performing audits and hiring “experts” to curb the cost associated with the operation of large air compressors and minimization of compressed air wastage. This seminar will show you practical, common sense, and proven best practices to make a measurable difference, with the least amount of cost. 
• Some seminars and courses end up being monotonous monologues from the presenter to the audience. Not this one. In this seminar, you will get an opportunity to air questions, share your success stories in the energy arena, and learn how to avoid costly mistakes, through discussions with the instructor and other members of the audience.

Who should take this live class?

• Licensed Professional Engineers, who need to meet the annual or biennial license renewal PDH (Professional Development Hour) or CEU (Continuing Education Unit) requirements. This energy seminar couples engineering concepts and knowledge with energy conservation concepts and best practices.
• Facility Managers, Engineering Managers, Energy Professionals, Architects, Project Managers, and other executives who feel a need to enhance their energy engineering knowledge, to make informed decisions on energy projects or programs.
• Professionals, who are not experienced in the energy realm, including energy project proposal development staff, energy project financial analysts, and technical writers.
• Procurement/purchasing professionals who are responsible for obtaining energy project proposals.
• Construction managers who manage energy project installations.
• Energy professionals preparing for the CEM, Certified Energy Manager, exam.
• Other professionals whose annual PLP, Performance and Learning Program, include energy engineering courses, training, or seminars.

Instructor Bio:

• Professor S. Bobby Rauf, P.E, C.E.M, MBA; member, ASEE, American Society of Engineering Education.
• Bobby Rauf is the President, Chief Consultant, and a Senior Instructor at Sem-Train, LLC. Bobby has over 25 years of experience in teaching undergraduate and post-graduate Engineering, Math, Business Administration, and MBA courses, seminars, and workshops. Professor Rauf is a registered (PE) Professional Engineer, in the States of Virginia, North Carolina, and Wyoming and is a Certified Energy Manager.
• Mr. Rauf was inducted as a “Legend in Energy” by AEE, in 2014. He is a published author of multiple engineering and energy books and professional development courses. He holds a patent in process controls technology.
• Professor Rauf is certified to instruct various engineering, ergonomics, and industrial safety courses. He has conducted certification training and trained engineers for Professional Engineering licensure exams in the United States, The United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands, and Ukraine, over the past ten years.
• Mr. Rauf develops and instructs PDH (Professional Development Hour) and, continuing education, and engineering skill-building courses. He conducts these courses in form of webinars, live on-site presentations, workshops, pre-recorded audio, and self-study texts. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Gardner-Webb University.
• Professor Rauf has also developed and published several self-study books that cater to the continuous professional development needs of Engineers, Technicians, and Technical Managers.
• Mr. Rauf’s last full-time engineering employment, in the corporate world, was at PPG Industries, Inc. where he served as a Senior Staff Engineer. During his long career at PPG, his responsibilities included the development and management of energy and ergonomics programs for multiple manufacturing plants, in the US and overseas. He also provided consultation and training services in, energy, electrical engineering, industrial safety, ergonomics, and arc flash arena. His extensive engineering experience includes power design, control system design, project management, process management, energy and utility management, energy audits/assessments, plant maintenance, robotics, manufacturing automation, HVAC audits, and design of ergonomic equipment.

Professor Rauf’s publications include (Available through AEE, River Publishers, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble; Google: Bobby Rauf):

• A textbook titled “Electrical Engineering Fundamentals.” Published in 2020, through Taylor Francis, for worldwide distribution.
• A textbook titled “Thermodynamics Made Simple for Energy Engineers,” 2nd Edition by River Publishers, 2023 – Worldwide distribution.
• A textbook titled “Finance and Accounting for Energy Engineers,” 2nd Edition by River Publishers, 2023 – Worldwide distribution.
• A textbook titled “Electrical Engineering for Non-Electrical Engineering,” The 3rd Edition by River Publishers, 2021 – Worldwide distribution.

Mr. Rauf of Sem-Train has provided training and/or consulting services to the following organizations over the last fifteen years:

• Amazon, AWS
• Duke Energy
• NYSSPE
• Tatweer Petroleum, Bahrain
• Patrick Engineering
• New York Power Authority
• NYC MTA
• Disney
• TOHO Water Authority
• BHP Billiton
• Saudi Aramco (Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
• US Bureau of Reclamation (Hoover Dam)
• CED
• Balfour Beatty
• Shaw Group
• McNeese University
• University of North Carolina, Charlotte
• Texas AM; University,
• PPG Industries, Inc.,
• PDHengineer,
• PPI, Professional Publications
• University of Maryland Baltimore County,
• EPIC (Canada)
• Y-F Asia - Singapore