Energy Efficiency

The final third of energy use in the United States occurs in a large variety of industrial operations such as producing steam, heating plants, and generating electricity for various operations. Improvements in the efficiency with which energy is used in industry also depends on two principal approaches: the development of more efficient devices and the invention of new kinds of technologies. More efficient motors are now available so that the same amount of work can be accomplished with a smaller amount of energy input. And, as an example of the use of new technologies, laser beam systems that can both heat and cut more efficiently than traditional tools are being given new applications. Industries are also finding ways to use computer systems to design and carry out functions within a plant more efficiently than traditional resource management methods.

One of the most successful approaches to improving energy efficiency in industry has been the development of cogeneration systems. Cogeneration refers to the process in which heat produced in an industrial operation (formerly regarded as "waste heat") is used to generate electricity. The plant saves money through cogeneration because it does not have to buy electrical power from local utilities.