As the manufacturing sector accounts for 85% of all U.S. industrial energy use, the EPA has been studying ways to help this sector increase energy efficiency. Under a business-as-usual scenario, energy consumption across many of these sectors will increase by 20% from 2004 levels by 2020, and carbon dioxide emissions will increase by 14%.
A new report, 2007 Sector Strategies Energy Report, released April 10, shows how each sector could improve environmental performance by becoming more energy efficient or by using clean fuel technologies.
The report explored 12 sectors -- aluminum, cement, chemical manufacturing, food manufacturing, forest products, iron and steel, metal casting, metal finishing, motor vehicle manufacturing, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, petroleum refining and shipbuilding. It analyzed each sector's current energy consumption trends and the associated environmental impacts, specifically emissions of air pollutants and carbon dioxide.
In the report the EPA identifies five strategies for manufacturers to follow:
- switching to cleaner fuels
- using combined heat and power
- retrofitting or replacing older equipment
- making process improvements
- investing in research and development.
For more inoformation on the program visit Sector Strategies Program
