US manufacturers save $4.2bn through energy management

January 5, 2018

Partner companies in the US Department of Energy's Better Buildings, Better Plants Program have saved around $4.2bn since the initiative was established seven years ago.

These firms, which represent about 12% of the country's manufacturing energy footprint, have made a commitment to reduce their energy use and costs through comprehensive energy management plans for their manufacturing facilities -- strengthening their productivity, creating jobs and increasing their resiliency.

Organisations can also choose to take the higher-level Better Plants Challenge and publicly share energy performance data and solutions, in addition to setting an energy-saving goal.

Among the Challenge partners achieving their energy reduction goals last year were chemicals manufacturer Celanese, which recorded a 21% energy intensity improvement in three years, and Johnson Controls, a producer of automotive parts and HVAC equipment for buildings, with a 26% improvement over seven years.

Better Plants Program partners who met their energy savings targets included engineering firm Bradken, which attained a 33% energy intensity improvement over eight years, and industrial automation specialist Comau with a 27% improvement in five years.

According to the latest biannual progress report on the Better Buildings, Better Plants Program, the estimated cumulative energy cost savings of $4.2bn to date translates into the average annual salaries of approximately 52,000 manufacturing workers, 6.2 million tons of steel, or 38 million tons of cement.

"The savings from these kinds of improvements can reduce operating expenses, making the US industrial sector even more vibrant and competitive, which will lead to increased operations and new jobs," the report said.

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