The goal of the Save Energy Now campaign is to help industrial companies find low-cost strategies to save energy while improving productivity. In 2006, the DOE conducted energy savings assessments on 200 manufacturing plants in 40 states and Puerto Rico that consumed 1 trillion Btu or more annually. It trained the plants’ staffs to use ITP’s steam and process heating software tools, which made them more likely to implement the energy efficient initiatives, the study states.

“This approach fosters strong buy-in among plant staff and enabled some companies to effectively replicate the assessment process in their other facilities,” DOE says.

That study found that if energy efficient processes were implemented, there would be potential annual savings of:

• $500 million in energy costs
• 53 trillion Btu of natural gas, or a 17.3 percent reduction per plant
  
• 4.04 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
  

“Follow-up surveys indicate that most assessed plants have quickly recognized the value of the opportunities identified and have implemented, or plan to implement, the majority of recommendations,” the DOE explains. “More than 90 percent of participating firms found that the assessments were influential in implementing new energy savings projects.”

In fact, 179 plants that participated in the study implemented 7 percent of recommended activities, which equaled savings up to 3.5 trillion Btu of natural gas per year, as well as $30 million. More than 60 percent of the recommendations are in progress or are planned for implementation, the DOE says.

“As energy efficiency improves, companies increase productivity, reduce costs and ultimately, enhance their competitive position in today’s global marketplace,” said Samuel Bodman, secretary of the DOE, in a statement.

For more information on Save Energy Now, visit www.energy.gov .