Energy conservation demands that we establish a list of desirable criteria for optimum pumping energy, design a system which fully utilizes the potential savings, and examine any mythical or actual problems to decide whether new or existing concepts and techniques are available or can be developed to resolve the problems without imposing energy penalties upon associated energy subsystems and without increasing life-cycle cost or first cost.

We shall start with an efficient variable speed pumping (VSP) design at 100% full load (FL), then add features commonly employed to allegedly improve operation, control safety, or cost, illustrating their adverse effect upon energy consumption.