Manufacturing Industry

Strategizing energy consumption: EPA outlines viable energy strategies for the metalcasting industry in a new report

Modern Casting, June, 2007

A new report on energy trends in selected manufacturing sectors lists strategies that metalcasters can implement to reduce their energy consumption but also reveals barriers the industry faces in fully achieving energy efficiency.

The study, Energy Trends in Selected Manufacturing Sectors: Opportunities and Challenges for Environmentally Preferable Energy Outcomes, was recently released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Sector Strategies Progrom. The report details energy consumption and related air emissions from the metalcasting sector and other industries currently partnering with EPA, which together represent 85% of the industrial energy use in the U.S.

According to the report, five strategies can be used to improve environmental performance:

* switching to cleaner fuels;

* using combined heat and power;

* retrofitting or replacing older equipment;

* making process improvements;

* investing in research and development.

The report rated the viability of implementing each of the five strategies within each sector. For metalcasting, equipment retrofit, process improvement and increased investment in research and development were rated as the environmentally preferable strategies for the industry. Reduction in energy consumption through increased efficiency would have a "magnified impact" on energy-related emissions, the report shows. However, significant barriers to increasing efficiency exist, specifically through research and development, because the composition of the industry (primarily small business), declining profit margins and industry diversity prevents a one-size-fits-all approach. Plus, local permitting presents barriers to implementing new furnace technologies.

"The energy report further illustrates the energy use in the metalcasting industry is a major environmental and business challenge," said Jeff Kohn, EPA metalcasting sector liaison.

For more on the EPA Sector Strategies Program or to read the Energy Trends report, visit www.epa.gov/sectors.>