Eastman Chemical, Alcoa, CalPortland, Lufkin, Raytheon Join DOE's Save Energy Now Initiative

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Eastman Chemical Company has joined the U.S. Department of Energy's Save Energy Now initiative, pledging to reduce energy intensity 25 percent over a 10-year period. Eastman joins four other companies -- Alcoa, CalPortland, Lufkin Industries and Raytheon -- in pledging to improve their energy efficiency as Save Energy Now Leaders.

Companies that make this pledge are required to develop energy intensity baselines, energy management plans and report their progress to DOE on an annual basis.

"It's appropriate that Eastman join this industrial initiative," said Jim Rogers, president and CEO. "Energy efficiency is not new to us. Over the past 10 years, we've reduced greenhouse gas intensity by 25 percent and energy intensity by 35 percent. We're an energy-intensive industry and will continue to do all we can to be more energy efficient."

These five companies joined 32 charter members that signed the DOE's Industrial Technologies Program's initiative in December 2009. Companies that sign the agreement to work toward the energy reduction target will receive priority access to selected DOE resources and national recognition for their commitment and progress. Click here for a complete list of companies that have pledged to reduce their energy intensity by 25 percent over a ten-year period.

As a Save Energy Now Leader, Nissan recently announced it has reduced energy use by $10 million a year at its Smyrna, Tenn., factory.

The DOE is also sponsoring energy-management demonstrations to support its two major initiatives -- Save Energy Now and Superior Energy Performance, an upcoming American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited plant certification program under development by the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing (USCEEM).

Project teams working with the Industrial Technologies Program's Save Energy Now initiative are recruiting manufacturing plants in the Northwest, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast regions to participate in these energy management demonstrations, reports Reliable Plant.

The selected companies will test the Superior Energy Performance (SEP)  certification program, which is expected to be launched in 2011. The new certification program will provide companies with a framework for implementing an energy management system (standard) and validating energy intensity reductions, according to the article.

Companies that participate in the energy management demonstrations will have access to training workshops, one-on-one coaching, and Web-based seminars, as well as a suite of tailored technical assistance, energy assessments, and software tools, which are designed to help participating plants reduce their energy use and costs by 5 to 15 percent over three years, reports Reliable Plant.

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