Canary Media: This available device could free up gigawatts of power for the US grid

Gigawatts of power are already available for the taking across the U.S. economy in the form of wasted energy from an unexpected source: motors. Some 50 million electric motors drive the fans, pumps, and compressors found in virtually every factory and building. Together, they gobble enough electricity to equal nearly a third of total U.S. power demand. Often, the motors use far more energy than they actually need to keep America’s machines humming. Companies can install devices known as variable frequency drives, or VFDs, to make motors run super efficiently. Yet adoption remains relatively low, in part because of the perceived hassle of retrofitting equipment and because they’re typically not required. However, there are now more reasons than ever to equip the nation’s motors with power-saving devices, energy experts and device manufacturers say. Learn MORE.,