Top Developments in Industrial Energy Efficiency in 2011

2011 was an impressive year of gains in industrial energy efficiency. From the publication of the ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard  to the first water and energy efficiency conference in the U.S., industrial facilities achieved important gains in energy efficiency and new tools were developed to help manufacturers achieve continuous improvement. While 2011 brought significant gains, many more initiatives will develop in 2012. To gain some perspective of the past year’s developments and insight into 2012, the Alliance’s Industrial program has ranked the top 10 industrial efficiency developments of 2011. While there were many more notable developments, in our view these were the most significant and newsworthy events of the past year.

• Release of ISO 50001
  • Based on the ISO management system model used by more than one million organizations around the world in standards such as ISO 9001 ( quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 22000 (food safety) and ISO/IEC 27001  (information security),  the International Standards Organization (ISO) released ISO 50001 in June 2011 after just two and a half years of development. This standard directly engages organizations to elevate energy efficiency into their management practices, and offers a means for continuous, cost-effective improvements.

• Announcement of Better Buildings Initiative and inclusion of industry through Better Plants Initiative
  • The White House and Department of Energy announced the Better Buildings Initiative (BBI) to offer technical support and formal recognition for organizational commitment to energy savings. The Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy-aligned Save Energy Now LEADER initiative on the BBI by upgrading Save Energy Now to Better Buildings/Better Plants. More than 100 Save Energy Now LEADER partners have transitioned into Better Buildings/Better Plants partners, working with DOE to implement cost-effective efficiency improvements in facilities nationwide, and have signed the voluntary pledge to reduce energy intensity by 25% over ten years.

• Dr. Leo Christodoulou takes over as new AMO (formerly ITP) Program Manager.
  • The Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) at the Department of Energy welcomed Dr. Christodoulou as the new Program Manager in July 2011. Prior to joining AMO, he served Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as a program manager and Director of the Defense Sciences Office. With expertise in synthesis, processing, and performance of metallic, intermetallic, and composite materials, Dr. Christodoulou brings considerable experience to support manufacturers in improving energy efficiency.

• Introduction of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011 (ESICA)
  • In May of 2011, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011 (ESICA) to Congress. This bill aims to provide financial and technical support to improve industrial energy efficiency.  Along with new loan and grant programs, the bill aims to forge greater private-public industrial partnerships to make U.S. industry more competitive.
• Texas SEP pilot plants achieve SEP certification
  • Five industrial plants in Texas completed pilot programs for the Superior Energy Performance program in early 2011. Plants belonging to Cook Composites and Polymers, Freescale Semiconductor, Owens Corning, and the Dow Chemical Company all realized significant cost savings through energy efficiency initiatives. Many of these projects required little, if any, capital investment. Building from the knowledge gained at these initial pilots and the current demonstration round, SEP is expected to be fully released mid-year in 2012.
• First ever water and energy efficiency conference held in Chicago, IL, showcases energy efficiency opportunities for water supply and wastewater treatment agencies.
  • Addressing the growing potential for energy savings in water supply and wastewater treatment facilities, the Water Environment Federation held their first ever water efficiency conference, entitled Energy and Water 2011: Efficiency, Generation, Management, and Climate Impacts, in Chicago, Illinois. With strong workshops, technical sessions, and exhibits, the conference marked a milestone in addressing water and energy efficiency shortfalls.
• DOE awards $30M to train the next generation of industrial EE experts in DOE’s Industrial Assessment Center Program
  • DOE took a significant step in supporting the future of energy efficient manufacturing by awarding $30 million to fund valuable training for university level engineering students in industrial energy efficiency. Through this funding, 24 universities with Industrial Assessment Centers will receive $200,000 to $300,000 per year to provide hands-on developmental experience that will help to supply more qualified energy specialists to industry.
• Launch of White House and DOE initiative: Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
  • The White House and DOE announced the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) to encourage collaboration by businesses, educational institutions, labor organizations, government agencies, and professional associations to catalyze investments in R&D, pre-competitive collaboration, and shared facilities and infrastructure that have the potential to transform advanced manufacturing in the United States.
• Legislation promoting broader deployment of Combined Heat and Power and Waste Heat Recovery
  • To take advantage of waste heat in industrial processes, three separate bills (HR 2812, HR 2750 and HR 2784) were introduced to congress in late 2011. These bills provide tax credits for facilities that install efficiency measures to capture energy in the form of excess heat that is often not recovered.
• Transition from Industrial Technologies Program to Advanced Manufacturing Office
  • The Industrial Technologies Program was renamed the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO). AMO will continue to work with diverse partners to develop and deploy technologies and best practices that will enhance competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers.

From the publishing of ISO 50001, the first international standard that provides a common framework for integrating energy efficiency into organizational management practices, to upgraded industrial energy efficiency programs from the federal government, 2011 saw significant developments in industrial energy efficiency. Looking forward to 2012, manufacturers can expect the official launch of Superior Energy Performance that will provide a pathway for continuous improvement in energy efficiency and the opportunity to participate in Better Buildings/Better Plants.