Today the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency is celebrating National Energy Efficiency Day and the instrumental role industrial efficiency plays in the American manufacturing sector. Industrial efficiency has demonstrated that efficiency and economic growth go hand-in-hand. The advantages of industrial efficiency are well known to the members of the Alliance, representing a growing coalition of business, labor, and non-profit organizations that educate policymakers and the public about the benefits of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat to power. For our members, every day is Energy Efficiency Day.
CHP and WHP slash heat and electricity costs while reducing carbon emissions. A recent analysis by the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency found that nationwide, investing in CHP, WHP and industrial efficiency could save businesses $298 billion from avoided electricity purchases, while reducing annual carbon emissions by about 175-million tons in 2030—the equivalent of 46 coal-fired power plants. These energy savings help American manufacturers strengthen their competitive edge in the global market.
CHP also has a proven ability to increase grid resiliency. Because CHP systems can operate independently of the grid, they can prevent industrial companies and critical infrastructure from shutting down operations during power outages. The need for industrial resiliency is underscored by the growing occurrence of severe weather events. Indeed, as Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Gulf Coast, a 48 megawatt CHP system kept the lights and power on at the Texas Medical Center (TECO)—the world’s largest medical facility. CHP can keep our nation’s hospitals and nursing homes warm and bright.
While thousands of CHP and WHP installations around the country are already helping manufacturers save money, keep the lights on, and reduce emissions, the potential is far greater. According to the Department of Energy, America has the technical potential to produce nearly 150 gigawatts of clean and efficient power from CHP—that’s the equivalent of 300 conventional power plants. Even deploying a fraction of these projects could save 396-million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2030 (the electricity needed to power 32.5 million American homes). The Alliance for Industrial Efficiency is working hard to help realize this potential.
Learn more about our work on our website.