Energy Management in a Multi-Industry Organization

Abstract

Tenneco operates in seven of the nation's ten most energy intensive industries: Petroleum Refining, Chemicals Manufacturing, Pulp and Paper, Transportation Equipment, Primary Metals, Food Processing, and Machinery. This diversification of manufacturing operations and products, coupled with decentralization of management decision making present special challenges to the planning and coordination of an effective corporate level energy program. These challenges include accommodating different management styles and attitudes, different manufacturing operations, different energy intensities, different businesses, and different degrees of government regulation. Tenneco's energy program has steadily expanded to include all segments of the companies' various operations, even the least energy intensive, and has provided a steady stream of economic benefits in the form of avoided energy costs.