CSX – Naveen Venkataraman – 2011

Goals

Naveen Venkataraman was hired to spend his summer as an EDF Climate Corps fellow in Jacksonville, Fl. identifying and evaluating energy efficiency opportunities at CSX Transportation, Inc., one of the nation’s largest railroad operators.

Solutions

Venkataraman developed a statistical data model to predict the behavior, annual costs and potential savings for 249-yard air compressors in the CSX network. He recommended the use of radio and power cleaning technologies to minimize the losses due to air leaks and to reduce power consumption, thereby improving air compressor efficiency.

Venkataraman also identified energy efficiency opportunities at the CSX data center in Jacksonville. These included replacing HVAC and UPS equipment, optimizing space temperature setpoints and placing occupancy sensors on the raised floor lights.

Potential Impact

Venkataraman’s analysis projected estimated savings of about 23 million kWh annually, with annual cost savings between $370,000 and $527,000. These projects could save CSX between 1,880 to 3,400 metric tons in emissions while saving up to $2.3 million in net operating costs over the lifetime of the projects.