Industrial Energy Auditing: An Opportunity for Improving Energy Efficiency and Industrial Competitiveness

Abstract

This paper describes the Department of Energy's industrial energy auditing program, its achievements to date, and future plans. The Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Center (EADC) Program provides no-cost energy audits to small and medium size manufacturers, and recommends ways to cut plant energy use. The program is conducted by universities for the DOE, and has performed over 3600 audits since 1976. Approximately 55 percent of the recommendations made through the EADC program are implemented by industry. Since program inception, audit recommendations have produced a cumulative national energy savings of about 67 trillion Btus, valued at $365 million. The National Energy Strategy (NES) has identified industrial energy audits as a cost-effective means to reduce energy consumption in industry. In support of the NES, the EADC program is expanding, and plans to have 40 operational EADCs by the year 2000. Through outreach activities, EADCs will also encourage similar private-sector programs, e.g. utility-conducted industrial audits performed for demand-side management programs.