US
EPA efficiency programme helps US automakers cut fossil fuels 12%
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star programme has helped automakers cut fossil fuel usage by 12% and reduce greenhouse gas emission by over 700,000 tons of CO2.
The report by the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University looked at the Energy Star Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) for auto assembly plants, which allows benchmarking energy performance against competitors and over time.
It highlights the effectiveness of performance measurement and the importance of recognising for top performers.
Energy Star EPIs are in place for over 20 other industries and the EPA has recognised over 60 manufacturing plants with an Energy Star label.
The EPA estimates that the 60 participating plants have made saving of more than $500 million and six million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
If all US industrial facilities improved their performance by just 10%, the EPA estimates that savings of nearly $20 billion could be made and greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from over 22 million homes could be saved every year.
For further information:
www.epa.gov
www.energystar.gov/industry
www.nicholas.duke.edu/institute/Duke_EE_WP_10-01.pdf
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Energy efficiency could reduce US energy use 20% by 2020 (15-Dec 2009)