System and method for managing energy usage in a manufacturing facility

An energy management system for a building, said energy management system comprising:

• an oven adapted to dry product positioned therein;
• a gas-powered burner adapted to supply heat to said oven when activated;
• an electric heater adapted to supply heat to said oven when activated;
• a meter adapted to measure a total amount of electrical power currently being consumed by a plurality of electrical devices within the building, said plurality of electrical devices includes said electric heater;
• and
• a control unit in communication with said meter, said burner, and said electric heater, said control unit adapted to automatically switch between activating said burner and said electric heater based upon whether said burner or said electric heater is currently more economical to use for heating said oven.

An energy management system for a building, said energy management system comprising:

• an oven adapted to dry product positioned therein;
• a gas-powered burner adapted to supply heat to said oven when activated;
• an electric heater adapted to supply heat to said oven when activated;
• a meter adapted to measure a total amount of electrical power currently being consumed by a plurality of electrical devices within the building, said plurality of electrical devices includes said electric heater;
• and
• a control unit in communication with said meter, said burner, and said electric heater, said control unit adapted to activate said gas burner if the total electrical power consumption measured by said meter exceeds a threshold.

A method of managing energy usage for a building comprising:

• drawing air into an air makeup unit adapted to condition the air to a target temperature and a target humidity;
• directing the conditioned air from the air makeup unit to a paint spray booth in which paint is applied to at least one product, said paint being applied in the presence of the conditioned air;
• removing paint particulate from the conditioned air by passing the conditioned air through a water wash unit having a water basin;
• and
• using a liquid to transfer heat between the water basin and the air makeup unit such that less energy is used by the air makeup unit in changing the temperature and humidity of the air drawn into the air makeup unit.

A method of managing energy usage for a building comprising:

• providing an oven adapted to dry product positioned therein;
• heating said oven using a gas-powered burner at certain times;
• heating said oven using an electric heater at other times;
• monitoring a total amount of electrical power currently being consumed by a plurality of electrical devices within the building, said plurality of electrical devices includes said electric heater;
• and
• switching from using the electric heater to the gas-powered burner if the total electrical power consumption exceeds a threshold.