Tools and Resources

This Guide provides information to identify cost-effective practices and technologies to increase energy efficiency in the nitrogenous fertilizer industry. This research provides information on potential energy efficiency opportunities for ammonia, urea and ammonium nitrate plants and on potential opportunities to decrease the N2O emissions in nitric acid plants, a powerful greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential. This Guide focuses on the most important systems, processes, and practices that account for the bulk of energy consumption.

Energy costs typically account for 5-7% of the overall operating costs in a metal casting foundry. Energy waste is found in all plants, and improving energy efficiency goes right to the bottom line. Following the procedures outlined in this guide will reduce your energy costs (and dollars spent) per ton of cast metal while improving your environmental reputation as well as image in the community.

The U.S. breakfast cereal industry consumes over $130 million on purchased fuels and electricity annually. This enegy guide discusses the variety of opportunities available at individual plants to reduce energy consumption in a cost-effective manner. The guide includes estimates of expected savings in energy and energy-related costs, based on case study data from real-world applications in breakfast cereal processing facilities and related industries worldwide.

Energy consumption is equal to 3–8 percent of the production costs of beer, making energy efficiency improvement an important way to reduce costs, especially in times of high energy price volatility. After a summary of the beer making process and energy use, this 74-page paper examine energy efficiency opportunities available for breweries. Projected energy savings for each energy efficiency measure are provided. If available, typical payback periods are also included.

In the cement industry, from 1970 to 1999, carbon dioxide intensity due to fuel consumption and raw material calcination dropped 16 percent. Despite the historic progress, there is considerable potential for energy efficiency improvement, when compared to other industrialized countries. This guide examines more than 40 energy efficient technologies and measures, and estimates the energy savings, carbon dioxide savings, investment costs, and operation and maintenance costs for each. Best practices from around the world are also covered.

This guide introduces energy efficiency opportunities available for petroleum refineries. It begins with descriptions of the trends, structure, and production of the refining industry and the energy used in the refining and conversion processes. Specific energy savings for each energy efficiency measure based on case studies of plants and references to technical literature are provided. If available, typical payback periods are also listed. The Energy Guide draws upon the experiences with energy efficiency measures of petroleum refineries worldwide.

The U.S. baking industry consumes over $800 million worth of purchased fuels and electricity per year. This guide, from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, discusses the variety of opportunities available at individual plants to reduce energy consumption in a cost-effective manner. The authors include expected savings in energy and energy-related costs, based on case study data from real-world applications in food processing facilities and related industries worldwide.

Use this guide to learn cost-effective ways to reduce the energy use of your concrete plant while still maintaining the quality and yield of your products. The guide outlines available measures for energy efficiency in the concrete industry and includes the expected energy and cost savings based on real world examples.

Corn wet milling is the most energy intensive industry within the food and kindred products group, using 15 percent of the energy in the entire food industry. This report shows energy efficiency opportunities available for wet corn millers. It begins with descriptions of the trends, structure and production of the corn wet milling industry and the energy used in the milling and refining process. Specific energy savings are provided for each energy efficiency measure. If available, typical payback periods are also listed.