The U.S. Steel industry has reduced its energy intensity per ton of steel shipped by about 33 percent since 1990 – an improvement on the 29-percent reduction reported in 2006, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
The results far surpass the mere 7 percent reduction (1990-2012) called for in the Kyoto Protocol, the institute observes.
In 2007, an average of 1.14 tons of CO2 was emitted for every ton of U.S-produced steel. The World Steel Association said it is working to develop a global steel sector approach by 2010 to reduce the CO2 intensity of steel.
Last year Save Energy Now Assessments, conducted by the Department of Energy Industrial Technologies Program, identified more than $105 million in potential energy cost savings for 23 U.S. steel manufacturing facilities that participated in the program.