{"id":7302,"date":"2005-07-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2005-07-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/use-it-or-lose-it-tracking-industrial-fuel-consumption\/"},"modified":"2005-07-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2005-07-01T00:00:00","slug":"use-it-or-lose-it-tracking-industrial-fuel-consumption","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/use-it-or-lose-it-tracking-industrial-fuel-consumption\/","title":{"rendered":"Use It or Lose It: Tracking Industrial Fuel Consumption"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of industry’s biggest—and most misunderstood—business opportunities is therecovery of income lost to energy waste. Out of 17.8 quadrillion Btu of fuel and electricity delivered “to the fence” of industrial facilities in 2001, a conservative estimate claims that 31 percent (5.4 quads) was lost in combustion, distribution and energy conversion activities. At today’s fuel prices of about $7 per MMBtu, those losses equate to more than $38 billion. Table 1 <\/i>presents an overview of the U.S. industry’s energy use and losses in 2001.<\/p>\n

The fundamental laws of physics and thermodynamics make some losses unavoidable, but much of this loss is an opportunity to embrace efficient technologies and practices. Every 1 percent recapture of energy losses saves industry about $380 million. Estimates of practical energy savings available to industry range from 10 to 20 percent. Note that this is an industry average—some plants can save more than this range, some less. Keep in mind that each dollar of energy cost savings is one extra dollar of net income. <\/p>\n

Case studies and research conducted by the Alliance to Save Energy have articulated industry’s energy management barriers and strategies. The Alliance shares some major lessons:<\/p>\n