From Guest Blogger Bobbi Peterson: Energy Efficiency and the Manufacturing Industry

The industrial sector is the subset of the U.S. economy that requires the most energy. U.S. industry uses 30 Quadrillion Btu of energy each year — about a third of all the energy used across the country.

That number’s not surprising since industry produces everything we use in our daily lives. It includes manufacturing, agriculture, construction, mining and water and wastewater treatment. Manufacturing uses the most energy of any industry subdivision — about 85% of industrial energy use.

The U.S. manufacturing industry is growing. It added 28,000 jobs this February. However, carbon dioxide emissions from industry are falling. How could this be? One contributing factor is energy efficiency.

About Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency refers to how much energy is used to complete a certain process. When people talk about energy efficiency, they’re often talking about ways to reduce energy use while doing the same amount of work. The less energy used to do something, the more energy efficient it is.

There are various ways the manufacturing industry can increase energy efficiency that involve methods like using more efficient machinery, changing policies, educating employees and constructing buildings out of greener materials.

How Energy Efficiency Benefits the Manufacturing Industry

Perhaps the biggest way energy efficiency can benefit manufacturing companies is by saving them money. Energy isn’t cheap, so using less of it can, of course, be extremely beneficial. Energy efficiency allows manufacturers to produce their goods for less money, enabling them to be more competitive on the market. When companies make more money, they can hire more.

Saving energy reduces emissions, which is good for the environment. While this may not benefit a business directly, it may improve its reputation. Marketing a company as green may attract more customers.

Tips for Reducing Energy Use

Energy efficiency improvements can take the form of either small steps or massive overhauls. However it’s done, manufacturers usually follow a few distinct strategies when attempting to increase their efficiency.

Conduct an Energy Audit.

The first step to improving energy efficiency is determining how efficient you already are. Utility companies will often provide free or low-cost energy audits. Various online tools can help you gain a better understanding of your energy use. Once you know more about how you use energy, you can start to figure out how to use it more efficiently.

Optimize Your Processes.

Replacing equipment isn’t always necessary to achieve improved energy efficiency. Changing the way a business does things can often make it more efficient. This could include anything from turning off lighting when it’s not in use to changing when and how machinery is run. For example, when multiple systems begin operating at the same time, a start-up spike can occur. Gradually starting up equipment can avoid this spike and reduce energy costs.

Upgrade Equipment.

If equipment is inefficient because of its age, mechanical issues or other factors, replacing or repairing it may be necessary to improve its efficiency. Purchasing equipment that’s efficient may save companies money in the long run even if it has higher up-front costs because of the energy savings it can achieve over its lifetime.

Process Heating.

Providing heat is crucial to most manufacturing processes and makes up nearly 17% of industrial energy use. By repairing any air leaks, regularly cleaning electrical equipment and insulating properly, businesses can increase a facility’s efficiency and reduce their energy costs. Manufacturing plants can sometimes recover lost heat and repurpose it.

Involve Your Employees.

It’s important for manufacturers to involve their employees in their energy efficiency initiatives. Providing training on how to use equipment more efficiently can help them to use less energy in their work. Because employees work with the equipment every day, they may have ideas about how to increase efficiency.

Take Advantage of Programs.

Both utility companies and the federal government run programs that encourage energy efficiency. Ask your utility company and their competitors about any programs they might have. You may be able to take advantage of loan programs and incentives, as well as federal agencies like the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The manufacturing industry is growing and changing as technologies improve and become more energy efficient. Improving a manufacturing plant’s energy efficiency can save it money, encourage manufacturing job growth and inspire a more favorable reputation for the company.