Paul Bostrom, Alliance to Save Energy
Often, energy efficiency is perceived as a competing interest to other imperatives such as production targets and environmental or safety compliance.
Within the industrial sector, this is usually not the case.
Time and again, improving energy efficiency in industrial and manufacturing facilities yields significant energy cost savings. It can lower equipment maintenance costs and emissions while increasing productivity and profitability.
In fact, energy efficiency represents a key opportunity to advance U.S. competitiveness and create manufacturing jobs, all while making progress toward sound national energy and climate goals.
Improving Energy Efficiency: DOE’s Save Energy Now Programco
To fully realize these opportunities, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiated an aggressive program to reduce domestic industrial energy intensity 25 percent over 10 years (or, “25 in 10”). Called Save Energy Now, this initiative is led by the Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). It engages Save Energy Now LEADER companies, which are companies that have taken a voluntary pledge to reduce the energy intensity of their own operations by “25 in 10”.
Under this program ITP provides program support and technical assistance—including energy assessments, software tools, technical publications, a dedicated technical account manager (TAM) and training courses—to help LEADER companies realize their commitments.
And the benefits work both ways. As LEADER companies improve the efficiency of their production facilities and adopt principles of energy management, they become working examples of how energy efficiency can give companies a competitive edge. This reinforces not only the success of DOE’s program, but the idea that energy efficiency helps position organizations for a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy.
Launched with an official signing ceremony in December, 2009, the Save Energy Now LEADER program touted 32 charter members. And, the program is catching on fast – today, less than four months later, an additional 13 companies have taken the same pledge and more are poised to join the effort.
EE Global Workshop
On May 10th, the Alliance to Save Energy will host Meeting the Challenge – Save Energy Now LEADER Companies Reduce Energy Intensity, an invitation-only workshop to recognize current LEADER companies and welcome new ones, and to discuss strategies, best practices and tactics for meeting the 25 in 10 goal.
Panelist will include representatives from LEADER companies, federal agencies and the NGO community, who will focus on energy efficiency implementation paths, financing mechanisms for energy efficiency projects and best practices in supply chain management.
Often, energy efficiency is perceived as a competing interest to other imperatives such as production targets and environmental or safety compliance.
Within the industrial sector, this is usually not the case.
Time and again, improving energy efficiency in industrial and manufacturing facilities yields significant energy cost savings. It can lower equipment maintenance costs and emissions while increasing productivity and profitability.
In fact, energy efficiency represents a key opportunity to advance U.S. competitiveness and create manufacturing jobs, all while making progress toward sound national energy and climate goals.
Improving Energy Efficiency: DOE’s Save Energy Now Program
To fully realize these opportunities, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiated an aggressive program to reduce domestic industrial energy intensity 25 percent over 10 years (or “25 in 10”). Called Save Energy Now, this initiative is led by the Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). It engages Save Energy Now LEADER companies, which are companies that have taken a voluntary pledge to reduce the energy intensity of their own operations by “25 in 10”. .
Under this program ITP provides program support and technical assistance—including energy assessments, software tools, technical publications, a dedicated technical account manager (TAM) and training courses—to help LEADER companies realize their commitments.
And the benefits work both ways. As LEADER companies improve the efficiency of their production facilities and adopt principles of energy management, they become working examples of the how energy efficiency can give companies a competitive edge. This reinforces not only the success of DOE’s program, but the idea that energy efficiency helps position organizations for a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy.
Launched with an official signing ceremony in December, 2009, the Save Energy Now LEADER program touted 32 charter members. And, the program is catching on fast – today, less than four months later, an additional 13 companies have taken the same pledge and more are poised to join the effort.
EE Global Workshop
On May 10th, the Alliance to Save Energy will host Meeting the Challenge – Save Energy Now LEADER Companies Reduce Energy Intensity, an invitation-only workshop to recognize current LEADER companies and welcome new ones, and to discuss strategies, best practices and tactics for meeting the 25 in 10 goal.
Panelist will include representatives from LEADER companies, federal agencies and the NGO community, who will focus on energy efficiency implementation paths, financing mechanisms for energy efficiency projects and best practices in supply chain management.
Tags: industrial energy efficiency, Save Energy Now program, U.S. Department of Energy
I couldn’t agree more, Paul! I’ve walked through many industrial facilities across the country doing lighting audits and found that in addition to inefficient lighting, even the most modern facilities have huge compressed air leaks, motors running at full tilt and tons of heat loss in their processes. In an effort to run lean, our manufacturing plants are putting off investment in simple things that can lead to real bottom line improvements. The LEADER program and the 32 charter members is a start, but we have a long way to go!
Regards,
Ray De Varona