How We Achieved a 41% Energy Reduction

Abstract

Abbott Laboratories is a worldwide company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of a broad and diversified line of human health care products and serices. At year-end 1983, Abbott had 28 facilities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico totaling more than eight million square feet of floor space and also had manufacturing and distribution operations and joint ventures in 44 countries throughout the world. Abbott's energy program has steadily expanded to include all locations, and 1984 results show a 41.1% reduction in energyusage per unit of output from the base year 1973. This paper describes Abbott's perforance to date and what has been done to achieve those results, in addition to discussing the actions necessary to achieve a 50% reduction in 1989. Management support, employee awareness, intercompany communication and new technologies are emphasized in this paper.