Research And Insight

Energy costs

Pump energy costs are most often the largest component in the calculation of the life cycle cost for a pumping system. In commercial buildings, pumps often run more than 2000 hours a year.

Many factors influence the energy consumption of a pump system:

  • Load profile
  • Use of speed-controlled solutions
  • Pump efficiency (calculation of duty point should be carried out carefully)
  • Motor efficiency (the motor efficiency at partial load can vary significantly between high-efficiency motors and normal-efficiency motors)
  • Pump sizing (safety margins and rounded numbers tend to result in oversized pumps)
  • Other system components, such as pipes and valves
  • Load profile of circulation systems in commercial building systems

Use the Grundfos Product Center [add link] sizing tool to calculate the pump energy costs (Ce) in relation to the system.

EU energy label

Most domestic appliances, light bulbs and cars offered for sale or rent in the EU must clearly display an EU Energy Label showing the product’s energy efficiency.

The energy efficiency of an appliance is rated in terms of a set of energy efficiency classes from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient and G the least efficient. In an attempt to keep up with advances in energy efficiency, A+ and A++ grades have been introduced for refrigeration appliances.

The labels thus improve the information available to consumers when evaluating various models.

Centrifugal pumps are also covered by an efficiency index that has been developed on behalf of a number of major pump manufacturers, including Grundfos. The manufacturers have collaborated to produce a reference index for a standard pump with an average load profile.

The index expresses the power consumption of the pump in relation to a common reference pump curve. The index can be interpreted as an expression of how much energy a specific pump uses in relation to an average pump in 2003 when the index was originally established.

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