1. 3E Plus Program Software Insulation Thickness Calculator
Benefits, Usage and Evaluation
U.S. EPA Grant Number NP – 00E01561

2. Background
3E Plus is an industrial energy management tool developed by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. It is used to simplify the task of determining how much insulation is necessary to:
Use less energy
Reduce plant emissions
Improve process efficiency
Designed for:
Facility managers
Energy/environmental engineers
Industrial process engineers
Industrial plant managers

3. Background (cont’d)
3E Plus program is an integral part of several private sector and governmental-sponsored energy efficiency programs
Featured in the National Insulation Association’s (NIA) Insulation Energy Appraisal Program (IEAP)
IEAP provides detailed instruction on how to use 3E Plus as well as a complete energy appraisal on pipes and ducts
The Department of Energy also used 3E Plus to develop its Industrial Insulation Guidelines
No training is necessary, but many users find attending a training session through the NIA helpful

4. 3E Plus Program Overview
Determines economic thickness of insulations based on ROI for chosen fuel cost, installed cost, tax rates, maintenance, etc.
Calculates amount of insulation needed for personnel protection
Calculates amount of insulation needed for condensation control
Calculates greenhouse gas emissions and reductions

5. 3E Plus Program Overview (cont’d)
Determines surface temperature and heat loss/gain calculations of individual insulation thicknesses up to 20 inches (250 mm)
Solves for outside insulated surface temperatures for all types of insulation applications
Calculates bare vs. insulated heat loss efficiency percentages for horizontal and vertical piping, ducts and flat surfaces

6. 3E Plus Program Details
The 3E Plus version 4.1 operates in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, 8, 10 environments
Customized program details such as insulation materials, jacketing, fuel types and base metals can be easily saved and imported
Can easily export insulation audit data to an Excel spreadsheet
Provides simple payback calculations

7. 3E Plus Program Details (cont’d)
Performs calculation for most types of insulation materials and accepts performance data provided by the user for other materials
Provides calculations for many fuel types and five different surface orientations. User can add own fuel combinations
Uses calculations and default values from independent sources
Allows user to customize program by adding and saving individual company’s insulation installed cost estimates

8. 3E Plus Program Details (cont’d)
Has all the latest thermal curves contained in the ASTM material standards
Automatically calculates thickness tables
Calculates in both metric and inch-pound units
Updated thermal curves and new insulation materials

9. Calculation Features
3E Plus can perform a wide range of calculations including:
Energy
The thermal performance of both insulated and uninsulated piping and equipment
The energy (Btu) currently being saved with existing insulation systems and the actual dollar value of those savings
The potential Btu savings with an insulation upgrade

10. Calculation Features (cont’d)
Economics
All calculations involving money or economics are in the Economics section of the program
Cost of energy
Simple payback
Economic thickness
The cost of operating systems with existing insulation in terms of Btu and dollars
The potential cost reduction of operating those same systems with an insulation upgrade

11. Calculation Features (cont’d)
Environmental
The number of pounds (or metric tons) of greenhouse gases [CO2, NOx] currently being prevented from release into the atmosphere due to reduced fuel consumption resulting from greater insulation thickness
The potential number of pounds of greenhouse gases that could be prevented from release through an insulation upgrade, resulting from greater reductions in fuel consumption

12. Incorporating the 3E Plus Software into an Assessment
During the Onsite Assessment:
Assessment team determines if there are opportunities for energy savings for un-insulated or under insulated piping or equipment, such as:
Hot water distribution piping
Steam distribution piping

13. Incorporating 3E Plus Software into the Assessment
During the Onsite Assessment
Completes data collection checklist as needed
Type of surface (pipe or tube, flat surface, etc.)
Process temperature
Ambient Temperature
Wind Speed
Pipe size and material
Fuel type, fuel cost
Operating hours per year

14. Incorporating the 3E Plus Software into the Assessment
After the Onsite Assessment:
Use data from checklist with the 3E Plus software to calculate recommended insulation and/or energy savings
Note savings to be included in the report

15. Example of 3E Plus Software (Energy Calculations)

16. Example of 3E Plus Software (Environmental Calculations)

17. Example of 3E Plus Software (Economics Calculations)

18. Incorporating the 3E Plus Software into the RETAP Assessment
After the Assessment Report:
Note ECMs included in the report and determine their combined resource and dollar savings

19. How will the 3E Plus Software be Evaluated?
Evaluation Criteria
Time requirement for effective software use
Number of software ECMs included in the assessment reports
Resource and cost savings associated with these ECMs
Optimize use and collection of evaluation data during five pilot assessments
Make determination to continue or discontinue based on data from ten assessments

20. Useful Links 3E Plus Insulation Thickness Computer Program
MIDG – Mechanical Insulation Design Guide - 
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) through the National Mechanical Insulation Committee has developed the Mechanical Insulation Design Guide (MIDG) to provide a comprehensive source of information on the performance, use, testing and standardization of mechanical insulation in buildings and industrial facilities. It is intended to be a comprehensive resource to assist specifiers and users of mechanical insulation in the design and specification of mechanical insulation systems for a wide range of applications and is continually being updated.

21. U.S. EPA Grant Number NP – 00E01561
Summary
The 3E Plus Insulation Thickness software is a readily available energy efficiency assessment tool
It will be used to:
Assist with recommendation quantification for piping insulation opportunities
U.S. EPA Grant Number NP – 00E01561