Corning Incorporated:

In Practice

Partner Profile

Corning Incorporated is the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics. Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences.  Corning is an energy-intensive organization, spending more than $300 million annually on utilities.  Therefore in 2006, the company established its Global Energy Management (GEM) process to ensure the cost-effective and environmentally responsible use of energy in its facilities around the world. GEM provides funds, training, technical support, and other resources to Corning's business units to help them increase their energy efficiency and productivity.

Industrial Partner Since 2005

Contact Information:
 Corning Incorporated
One Riverfront Plaza
Corning, NY 14831
607-974-8467

In Practice

4: Create Action Plan

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4.1: Define Technical Steps and Targets

Utilization of an Integrated Energy Master Plan

Corning's Global Energy Management (GEM) team utilizes Integrated Energy Master Plans (IEMP) to define technical steps and targets within the company's action plan.  IEMP provides for the development of integrated energy plans for Corning facilities in the same geographic areas, instead of having each facility develop its own individual plan.  It recommends management and investment options to achieve the following goals, based on at least a five year planning horizon.  An IEMP strives to: 1) ensure the availability of a reliable supply of energy with adequate redundancy, 2) maximize the energy productivity of existing operations, 3) ensure the highest levels of energy productivity for the anticipated growth of both the manufacturing process and the associated real-estate, 4) achieve energy productivity levels of at least 20 to 30 percent higher than current practice in the division, 5) develop a roadmap for ensuring ongoing productivity gains for at least a further five years beyond the initial five year horizon, and 6) achieve greenhouse gas reductions that at least commensurate with the energy productivity gains.

Implementation of a Facility Design and Construction Manual for Energy Standards

Corning's Global Energy Management (GEM) team has collaborated with the Corning Corporate Facilities group to re-write the energy section of the Corning facility design and construction manual to provide energy standards at the start of a renovation or new facility design. This approach is intended to save energy right from the beginning rather than retrofitting improvements later when the plant is up and running.

4.2: Determine Roles and Resources

Global Energy Management Team

Corning's Global Energy Management (GEM) team provides capital to implement energy productivity opportunities.  Providing capital for energy reduction improvements removes this burden from the plant capital budget and assures that energy efficiency projects are implemented.  This program has been very successful in executing energy productivity projects at the plants that would most likely not have been completed if GEM did not provide the seed capital.  GEM has streamlined the funding process to make it easier for organizations to apply for the capital.  It also places a value for carbon emissions as part of the justification for the project.  GEM provides the capital and the plants are responsible for the depreciation.

5: Implement Action Plan

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5.2: Raise Awareness

Global Energy Summit

Corning's Global Energy Manager hosts the company's Energy Summit every other year.  This event is used to share new energy initiatives, technologies, and the Global Energy Management team's goals and performance, best practice sharing, and benchmarking with other industry leaders in energy management.  The summit provides an opportunity for sharing best practices as well as a venue for networking among Corning's Global Energy community.