ENERGY STAR Focus on Energy Efficiency in Dairy Processing
The “dairy processing focus” is a partnership between EPA’s ENERGY STAR program and dairy processing companies to improve energy efficiency within their operations. Tools are available here to help improve manufacturing energy efficiency, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Dairy processors can get started on a path of saving energy by using the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management to build an energy management program, and then work within this dairy processing focus to learn best practices from the industry. If you are a dairy processor who wants to get involved in your industry’s efforts to save energy, contact energystrategy@energystar.gov.
Plant energy performance indicator (EPI) tool
The ENERGY STAR Fluid Milk & Yogurt Processing EPI assesses the energy efficiency of a plant relative to similar plants in the U.S. The 1 - 100 ENERGY STAR score enables a quick understanding of how a plant is performing. Plants receiving a score of 75 or higher are eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification. Read about H.P. Hood's Agawam Massachusetts Plant being the first fluid milk and yogurt processing plant to earn ENERGY STAR certification.
- Download the Fluid Milk & Yogurt Processing EPI
- Overview of Fluid Milk & Yogurt Processing EPI
To learn more about how the was EPIs are developed, download the Fluid Milk & Yogurt Processing EPI Technical Documentation.
EPIs can also be used as a management tool to inform meaningful goal setting and enable simple scenario analysis. They can provide insight into both the current and potential performance of a manufacturing plant. To help you leverage the EPI for maximum impact on managing your energy savings efforts, review the Getting Value from Your Industry’s Plant Energy Performance Indicator guide.
Plant energy guide
Use the dairy processing energy guide Energy Efficiency Improvement and Cost Saving Opportunities for the Dairy Processing Industry to find ways to improve the energy performance of fluid milk dairies.
Take the ENERGY STAR Challenge for the Dairy Industry
The International Dairy Foods Association and EPA have challenged the dairy industry to improve their energy efficiency by 10% within 5 years.
The ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry is an energy management tool that helps companies set plant energy performance improvement goals.
Sites that achieve the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry will be recognized by the EPA for their leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.