Reduce pump and fan costs in your business

Pumps and fans account for about 40% of energy used by motors in businesses throughout Australia.

By improving the efficiency of your pump and fan system, you can save up to 50% of energy costs in your business. This will:

• reduce your energy bills
• minimise maintenance costs
• lower your impact on the environment
• improve workplace safety.

It also helps to improve motor efficiency.

The information on this page come from our Boosting Business Productivity program. We worked with more than 300 businesses to explore their energy use and minimise their energy cost.

Assess your current energy use

Every business is different. The best way to get a clear idea of how to reduce energy consumption and costs in your business is by getting an energy audit. An energy auditor can review your energy bills and the way your business operates, to identify where you’re using energy inefficiently and what you can do about it.

Find an energy auditor near you.

Install a power meter on the motor that drives the pumps and fans to measure and analyse demand. You may find you’re using more energy than you need to get the job done.

Read how other businesses reduced their energy costs.

Ways to reduce motor costs

1. Switch off the system

Assess and analyse your operating process. You may find equipment is running when it doesn’t need to be.

Switch off pumps and fans when you don’t need them, especially overnight and weekends, to significantly reduce your operating costs.

2. Install timers and operational controls

Timers and operational controls can automatically turn on and off the motor that drives pumps and fans.

Make sure you check the automatic controls as operating conditions change.

3. Install variable speed drives

Variable speed drives adjust the speed of the motor to match the load required for the task. This will reduce the energy used when the full capacity of the motor isn’t needed.

Reducing the motor speed by 20% can lower your motor operating cost by up to 50%.

4. Regular maintenance

Schedule regular maintenance on pumps and fans to ensure consistent capacity and energy efficiency.

Regularly change or trim the impeller on pumps and fans to improve the efficiency.

Check for:

• leaks
• flow rate
• pressure.

5. Improve motor efficiency

A motor is part of a pump or fan. By increasing motor efficiency, your pump and fan systems will work better too.

Learn how to improve motor efficiency.

What else can you do?

Upgrade your pumps and fans at a discount

You may be eligible for discounted energy-efficiency products and services, including pumps and fans, through the Victorian Energy Upgrade program.

To get started, contact an accredited provider.

Then, you can pay for the remaining cost with energy-specific finance.