Infographic: VSD Technology Provides up to 50 Percent Energy Savings

If you want to reduce energy consumption at your plant, variable speed drive technology is a great place to start. For more than 20 years, the variable speed drive (VSD) compressor has been one of the most energy efficient compressor designs in the compressed air industry. In fact, VSD compressors save an average of 35 percent on electricity costs but can save up to 50 percent depending on the application. With compressed air systems accounting for as much as 30 percent of a plant’s total energy consumption, VSD technology represents a huge opportunity for energy savings – and it’s ideal for nine out of every 10 applications that use compressed air.

Variable speed drive technology
Fitted with an intelligent drive system, a VSD compressor continuously changes its motor speed to match air demand and prevents the compressor from running in an unloaded state. This simple concept yields significant energy savings.

In fact, VSD technology has saved 4.2 billion kWh of energy and an estimated $420 million in energy costs in the U.S. since its launch in 1994. That’s enough energy savings to power homes in the city of San Francisco for one year, and equivalent to the carbon emissions reduction of taking 504,234 cars off the road.

See payback through utility company rebates within two years
Many utility companies offer rebates toward the purchase of new, more energy efficient compressed air equipment. Combined with the energy savings gained by upgrading to VSD technology, plants can see payback within one or two years.